Firms charged with manslaughter over deadly Hong Kong fire

Hong Kong authorities person charged 2 companies and 7 radical implicit the devastating occurrence astatine the Wang Fuk lodging analyzable past November.

They were handed 25 charges including manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, attempting to pervert the people of nationalist justice, and taxation evasion.

The blaze, which killed 168 people, was the deadliest occurrence the metropolis had seen successful much than 70 years.

Authorities said they had charged the task consultancy steadfast and the main contractor, arsenic good arsenic individuals progressive successful the renovation including the directors of some companies and the registered inspector astatine the consultancy.

They person not named the companies and individuals charged.

Last year, soon aft the occurrence happened, Hong Kong's anti-graft watchdog had arrested 2 directors of the development's structural engineering consultancy Will Power Architects.

By March this year, constabulary said they had arrested 38 radical connected allegations of manslaughter and fraud.

The anti-graft watchdog had besides separately arrested 23 people, including consultants, contractors and members of the owners' corp of the complex.

Previous reports had named Prestige Construction and Engineering Company arsenic the registered contractor for the renovations.