On Thursday, the Independent Committee investigating the fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November submitted its 1,000-page report to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. The blaze claimed 168 lives and displaced nearly 2,000 homes, making it one of the most devastating fires to have shaken Hong Kong since World War II.

For nearly a year, the charred towers standing beside the otherwise idyllic Tolo Harbour have remained a stark reminder of the immense suffering of the victims and their families, as well as the unanswered questions surrounding accountability, justice and reform.

The government has made considerable efforts to provide financial assistance and replacement accommodation to those affected. Yet material assistance alone cannot heal emotional wounds. For many survivors and bereaved families, a sense of closure can only begin when the truth is established, responsibility is accepted, and justice is seen to be done.

The time taken to complete the investigation and determine official accountability has understandably prompted questions about whether the SAR government would be prepared to take full responsibility. The answer came on Thursday, when Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the investigation report and led the senior officials overseeing the relevant areas of responsibility in bowing deeply and offering a sincere apology to the victims and the wider community on behalf of the government.

The chief executive's apology was more than a symbolic gesture. It represented an expression of the government's profound remorse and its willingness to acknowledge institutional failings and accept responsibility.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the government has taken action against companies and individuals involved in the renovation works and worksite safety arrangements at Wang Fuk Court, laying hundreds of charges. Meanwhile, the police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption are pursuing investigations into potentially more-serious offenses, including money laundering, tax evasion, and syndicated bid-rigging. These investigations must run their course, and those found guilty must face the full consequences of the law.

But public expectations extend beyond criminal prosecutions. The officials responsible for overseeing the relevant works and safeguarding residents must also be held accountable.

The chief executive's response represents a significant demonstration of responsible governance. In addition to pursuing criminal liability, he has tasked the Public Service Commission, under the Heads of Department Accountability System announced in his 2025 Policy Address, with investigating the conduct of civil servants involved in overseeing the renovation and ensuring residents' safety. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan has pledged to complete the investigation within three months.

This is an unprecedented exercise in public-sector accountability, signaling much higher expectations of vigilance, professional responsibility, and proactive action among civil servants.

The chief executive has also explained why he accepted the resignation of one principal official appointed by the Central People's Government on his recommendation: the secretary for housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin. The investigation report identifies the Independent Checking Unit, which falls under the Housing Bureau, as having particularly direct responsibility for supervising the renovation works.

Bid-rigging, however, is a complex and deep-rooted criminal activity that has become increasingly entrenched since the introduction of the mandatory building inspection program in 2012. Other principal officials whose portfolios encompass aspects of building-renovation oversight bear different degrees of responsibility, but also have an important role in addressing systemic deficiencies and driving reform. The chief executive has made the political judgment to retain them while holding them responsible for delivering the necessary changes.

Ultimately, reform is the most important part of the government's response if another tragedy of this magnitude is to be prevented. Following extensive fact-finding and deliberations, the government has announced a comprehensive program of reform covering seven critical areas.

One of the most significant measures is to treat bid-rigging in large-scale building renovation projects as a form of serious and organized crime, enabling law-enforcement agencies to deploy the enhanced investigative and enforcement powers available under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance. This should help authorities penetrate the elaborate networks and concealed arrangements through which syndicated bid-rigging operates.

The implications extend well beyond Wang Fuk Court. Hong Kong has statutory owners' corporations in approximately 20,000 multistory buildings, while another 20,800 buildings, many of them older single-block developments, rely on nonstatutory owners' committees. Weak building management and fraudulent renovation practices have already caused considerable harm to residents and undermined confidence in the building-maintenance system.

One positive outcome of the tragedy is that it has prompted the government to provide substantially greater support for building maintenance and management. A Building Maintenance Support and Services Council will be established to offer independent, reliable and professional assistance to building owners. The Development Bureau will also set up an expert team to formulate overarching standards, principles and guidelines for large-scale renovation projects. In addition, a centralized digital platform will be introduced to handle complaints about building maintenance more efficiently.

Two government departments criticized in the investigation report — the Housing Department and the Buildings Department — will undergo substantial restructuring.

A new Public Housing Building Control Section will replace the controversial Independent Checking Unit. It will comprise two divisions, one overseeing new buildings and the other existing buildings, strengthening supervision of public housing construction and maintenance.

Similarly, the Buildings Department will be reorganized into separate divisions responsible for new and existing buildings. Ten district chiefs, supported by dedicated teams, will be appointed across the city's districts to improve coordination among government departments in building inspections and the handling of public complaints. The government will also seek an additional allocation of HK$300 million ($38.24 million) to strengthen the department's resources.

The Fire Services Department will establish a Major Fire Prevention and Control Command, focusing on developing contingency plans and strengthening preparedness for major outbreaks of high-risk fires.

These measures represent more than an administrative reshuffle. They are intended to address the institutional weaknesses exposed by the Wang Fuk Court disaster, strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure that public safety is given the priority it deserves.

Following the chief executive's announcement of the comprehensive reform and accountability program, principal officials responsible for the various policy areas, including those overseeing security and competition legislation, have also explained their respective reform plans and expressed their apologies. The collective response reflects a recognition that preventing another disaster requires coordinated action across the government, rather than isolated changes within individual departments.

For the victims and their families, no government assistance, apology or reform can restore the lives lost or fully compensate for what has been taken away. Their grief deserves our enduring respect, and the pursuit of justice must continue until all the facts have been established and those responsible have been held to account.

But the government has now acknowledged its shortcomings, apologized, set in motion processes to establish individual responsibility, and announced a far-reaching program of institutional reform. The real test will be whether these commitments are fully translated into effective action and lasting improvements in public safety.

Hong Kong must not forget Wang Fuk Court. Nor should it allow the tragedy to define its future. The best tribute to the 168 lives lost is to ensure that the lessons of the disaster are never forgotten and that no community has to endure such devastation again.

With accountability being pursued and meaningful reforms under way, it is time for Hong Kong to move forward — not by putting the tragedy behind us, but by turning grief into resolve and building a safer, more responsible and more resilient city.

The author is convenor of the Executive Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.