Public hearings over the Tai Po fire have pointed to cascading failures of oversight, while the row over critical Panama Canal ports heats up. Read on for details of these top stories and others covered by the City desk this week.

In today’s edition:

• Tai Po blaze hearings

   

• Panama Canal accusations

   

• New laws for megaproject

   

• Tate brothers stir debate

Tai Po blaze hearings

Nearly four months after the inferno that killed 168 people at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, a picture is emerging of what caused the disaster.

At the first of a series of public hearings, an independent committee investigating the fire was told that evidence gathered so far showed six “human factors” led to an almost complete failure of fire safety measures.

Multiple government departments had refused to take responsibility for oversight failures while contradictory views were given over the legal requirements of fire-retardant material at construction sites. Despite repeated complaints about workers smoking, Labour Department staff carrying out 16 checks never saw them lighting up.

Potential corruption involving the tendering process of the Wang Fuk Court renovation project would also not be “rare” in the market, committee lawyer Victor Dawes cautioned.

The next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday and will include the government’s opening address.

Panama Canal accusations

The tug of war over critical Panama Canal ports showed no signs of easing, as more accusations flew this week. Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, said the country’s government had missed a deadline for international arbitration aimed at negotiating the dispute over the Balboa and Cristobal terminals.

The Panamanian government rejected the accusation it was dragging its feet, saying legal counsel had been appointed and the company was instead refusing to cooperate. It also urged Chinese shipping giant Cosco, which has emerged as a key player in the battle between Washington and Beijing for influence over the canal, to reconsider its decision to suspend operations at Balboa. 

New laws for megaproject

The drive to build the Northern Metropolis took another step forward as the government unveiled legislation aimed at speeding up construction. Among the proposals is a measure to cut down the review process for land use changes from nine months to two and give the city’s leader and the Executive Council the power to adjust the boundaries of the megaproject.

Responding to concerns the Town Planning Board was being undermined, lawmaker Andrew Lam said the relaxation was not so extreme as to be unacceptable and the views of the public would still be heard.

Tate brothers stir debate

In other local news, self-admitted misogynist Andrew Tate arrived in Hong Kong along with his brother Tristan, sparking a discussion about who is allowed into the city. An activist group accused the government of failing to uphold its promise to ensure women’s safety, noting the brother faced charges abroad over sexual violence.

But lawmakers said authorities could not take action against the pair if no request for their arrest or extradition had been received. 

Politics

• Hong Kong to press ahead with expanding Middle East ties despite regional unrest