A Fire Services Department commander involved in fighting the fatal Wang Fuk Court fire has told a probe committee that there was no record of firefighter Ho Wai-ho entering one of the estate’s buildings before his death. Senior Station Officer of Tai Po Fire Station Hui Kin-on (third from left) and Station Commander of Tai Po Fire Station Cheung Lok-hang (first from left) leave the Wang Fuk Court fire hearing on April 13, 2026. Photo: James Lee/HKFP. Testifying on Monday, the 11th day of the hearings investigating the tragedy that killed 168 people, Senior Station Officer Hui Kin-on of Tai Po Fire Station said he did not deploy a designated officer to keep a record of firefighters entering the buildings.
Hui, who led firefighters in the first 30 minutes of the blaze, told Lee Shu-wan, a lawyer representing the independent committee investigating the fire, that he did not designate an entry control officer as the firefighters were still suppressing the fire outside the buildings.
The late Ho was among the 168 lives lost in the fire that engulfed seven of the eight buildings at the Tai Po housing estate. He died in the line of duty on November 26, the day the fire broke out, and was posthumously promoted to senior firefighter.
The fallen firefighter, stationed at Sha Tin Fire Station, was assigned to a rescue operation with two colleagues on the 27th floor of Wang Cheong House, the first building that caught fire. But video evidence showed him entering the neighbouring Wang Tai House alone at 3.15pm. Firefighters bury Ho Wai-ho, who died in the Wang Fuk Court fire, at Gallant Garden on December 19, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. At 3.22pm, other firefighters received a Mayday distress signal from the 30th floor of one of the buildings, later confirmed to have been sent by Ho.
He was unable to determine his own location when he made the distress call, the committee heard. When firefighters radioed him asking for his name, he did not reply.
‘At a complete loss’
Asked if he was “at a complete loss” as to where the firefighter could have been, Hui said he was. “I was surprised as to how he got up to such a height when the fire was so severe,” he added.
Five to six teams, each comprising up to 20 firefighters, were deployed in the Mayday rescue operation.
The committee also heard that the firefighters were initially unable to enter the buildings because falling debris, including bamboo scaffolding and nets, had piled up outside the entrance of Wang Cheong House, the first tower to burn. Hongkongers pay tribute to firefighter Ho Wai-ho at Sha Tin Fire Station on December 2, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. They were at times able to make openings to enter the premises, but they had to keep clearing the falling debris.
Ho was discovered on the ground outside Wang Tai House at 3.55pm. He was rushed to hospital and later pronounced dead.