Substandard work, evasion of oversight helped fuel deadly Hong Kong fire, investigators told

https://i.cbc.ca/ais/94732c91-bcf6-4989-b66f-227f66db6a48,1784289334873/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C72%2C3284%2C1847%29%3BResize%3D%28620%29" title="David Lok, chairman of the Independent Committee, arrives for the closing submissions at the Independent Commission investigation hearing into last year's Tai Po deadly fire, in Hong Kong, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/May James)" width="620" />

An independent committee investigating the cause of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades heard arguments on how improper practices that evaded regulatory oversight turned a small fire into a tragedy, as the investigation neared its conclusion on Friday.