Hong Kong’s housing minister resigns after fire investigation finds inadequate oversight
With a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of Rochester, Marcus has spent over a decade covering local business trends and economic developments for WXXI News. His analytical approach has made him a go-to source for understanding local market dynamics.
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HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader John Lee apologized Thursday and said his housing secretary resigned after an investigation into the city’s deadliest fire in decades found inadequate regulatory oversight. The massive fire that broke out last November engulfed seven buildings in an apartment complex in a northern suburban district, killing 168 people and displacing thousands of others. Many former residents of Wang Fuk Court have spent nearly a year waiting to see how the government will address accountability for the disaster that claimed their loved ones and their homes, which were undergoing building maintenance work at the time. At the opening of the news conference, Lee and seven other top officials bowed in apology. Lee said the death toll deeply saddened him. “As the chief executive, I apologize to the disaster victims and the public, and commit to fulfilling my responsibilities to lead the government with full force in resolving problems,” he said. “Comprehensive reforms will