Judge-led independent committee ensures transparency

Oriol Caudevilla says by confronting this tragedy through credible inquiry and comprehensive reform, Hong Kong can emerge stronger

As I mentioned in "HK always shows strength and resilience in hard times" (China Daily HK Edition, Nov 30), the Tai Po fire confirms that the city's greatest asset is its people, who always step forward to help their neighbors. In moments of adversity, Hong Kong residents have always shown the ability to come together. Businesses, community groups and individuals quickly mobilized to deliver food, clothing and essentials for those displaced. Shelters and temporary housing arrangements were made available for hundreds of families, and HK$2.3 billion ($295 million) has been raised for rescue and relief efforts.

This is indeed a massive catastrophe and, while Hong Kong residents have all come together to help, the fact remains that the causes need to be completely clarified since a disaster like this should never be allowed to happen again.

On Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the establishment of a judge-led independent committee to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth review to reform the building work system and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future, focusing on eight major areas where issues should be addressed, as the fire exposed significant lapses in building works, from construction to supervision.

The creation of this committee should indeed be welcome. By confronting this tragedy through open, credible inquiry and comprehensive reform, Hong Kong can emerge stronger, demonstrating that sorrow can be followed by a systemic improvement and renewed commitment to public safety.

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It is important to note that the inquiry will be led by a judge. While there have been attempts to politicize this arrangement now that the Legislative Council elections are due to take place on Sunday as planned (as the chief executive noted, a functioning legislature is indispensable to the city's recovery and the reforms needed following the Tai Po blaze), and while some have voiced their reluctance about this committee, the fact that it will be judge-led and independent should supply sufficient confidence.

We must bear in mind that Hong Kong's robust rule of law and sound legal system are widely recognized in the international community; and Hong Kong judges are renowned for independently performing their duties without favoritism or prejudice. This is evidenced by the city's consistent high rankings in international rule-of-law surveys. The city was ranked 24th in the 2025 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index. Whereas it was ranked 24th worldwide, it came 6th out of the 15 places surveyed in the East Asia and Pacific region.

Public confidence depends on transparency, impartiality and credible authority. Past tragedies in other cities show that inquiries without independence too often generate public suspicion, distrust or cynicism. Furthermore, timing is also of vital importance after such a tragedy: The longer it takes to clarify the facts, the more public trust will decrease.

When a similar high-rise fire occurred at Grenfell Tower in London in 2017, causing 72 deaths, the official report took several years to complete. The long delay in publishing findings only weakened trust across communities. Hong Kong must learn from those lessons. The new committee must proceed swiftly, examine all the evidence, and involve voices from victims' families, experts in fire safety, construction, public housing and civil society, and present its findings and recommendations without delay.

The human dimension must remain central. Behind the bare statistics are lives lost, families shattered, children orphaned, and grandparents gone. The city owes them truth, justice and tangible change. The committee should engage victims' families, incorporate their testimonies, document their losses, and ensure that compensation, resettlement and support are not delayed. Transparency must extend not only to causes of the fire, but to remedial measures. Public communication must be clear, timely and empathetic.

Beyond reform and rebuilding, Hong Kong must draw broader lessons about urban resilience. High-density living, vertical housing, renovation and maintenance cycles are part of modern city life. Climate change, aging infrastructure, rising population — these would test any city's safety standards. Hong Kong's recovery from this fire can become a shining example of how this should be done. Through transparent investigation, adaptive regulation, community engagement and preventive planning, the city can strengthen its readiness for future challenges.

As Hong Kong moves ahead with the Northern Metropolis development, with smart infrastructure, fintech innovation and urban renewal, safety must remain front and center.

This path forward demands openness, courage and collective will. With those qualities, Hong Kong can transform this calamity into a chance to strengthen its social contract. The committee's work will signal whether the city learns, adapts and protects its people, and demonstrate whether Hong Kong remains not only a modern metropolis, but a responsible, caring home.

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Hong Kong went through the Asian financial crisis, the severe acute respiratory syndrome, the global financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic without diminishing its role as one of the world's most important financial centers; and it will beat the odds again this time. This is because of Hong Kong's strengths and its resilient nature.

To sum up, the collective strength shown by residents, first responders and community groups reflects a city that stands together even in grief. With a clear commitment from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to uncover the causes of the tragedy, introduce reforms and protect every household, the foundations for renewal are already in place. Hong Kong has always moved forward through unity and purpose, and this moment is no exception. Hong Kong people can be competitive when it comes to advancing their careers, but they always prioritize helping each other because the SAR's nature is in itself generous and kind and will always remain so.

The author is a fintech adviser, a researcher and a former business analyst for a Hong Kong publicly listed company.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.