Hong Kong Fire Probe Must Target Corruption, Not Just Scapegoats
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A deadly fire in Hong Kong must lead to a full investigation of possible corruption, not just the punishment of a few individuals.
This is critical as officials investigate the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po last November. The blaze killed at least 161 people and left thousands homeless.
The building's maintenance contracts were not standard public procurement deals. However, they were still under strict government rules and official supervision.
Experts say corruption is a common risk in all government-linked contracts. An effective investigation must therefore examine the entire system of oversight, not only find frontline workers to blame.
The goal is to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.