Former security minister Lai Tung-kwok on Wednesday believes the independent review committee, which will probe the cause of the deadly fire in Tai Po and the reasons why it spread so fast, would work in tandem with the government groups set up to look into the disaster.

Chief Executive John Lee announced a day ago that the judge-led committee would carry out a comprehensive and in-depth review of the tragedy that has taken at least 156 lives.

Three groups headed by top government officials have been set up to follow up on the inferno.

Lai told RTHK the committee and government working groups would complement each other's efforts.

"The government who has set up those working review committees have vast amount of information that it can submit to the independent committee," he said.

"[The] independent committee can then look at all these materials, hear all the evidence, and then make an independent judgement from an outsider perspective, which is complimentary to what the government is going to do."

Lai noted that even though the committee does not have any legal power to summon witnesses, this would not effect its ability to carry out its duties.

"I think that the difference will not be so great, and that people who are invited will give evidence before the committee," he said.

"[The] people of Hong Kong are feeling very sad on this issue, and I think this is a general inclination that people would come up and talk to the committee [about] what they feel, what they observe, and what they think."

Referencing past examples, Lai expected the committee to take six to nine months to complete its investigation and submit a report.

Lai added the independent nature of the review committee would give the public confidence that it would deliver a fair and accurate report on the fire.