The Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po will hold a direction conference on February 5 to lay out the plans for its hearings.

The committee was established in December to look into the cause of the blaze last November which claimed 168 lives, and to come up with recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, the conference will cover areas such as which individuals and organisations will attend the hearings, the language to be used, and how witness statements and documents are to be submitted.

"There will not be any presentation of evidence or examination of witnesses at the direction conference," the statement said.

The conference will be held at 10am in the Multi-purpose Room on the third floor of City Gallery, 3 Edinburgh Place.

The proceedings will also be broadcast on the ground floor of City Gallery and in the Lecture Theatre at Central Library, with some 400 seats available for members of the public who reserve a place online.

The statement also said the committee will invite the public and organisations to provide information on the causes and circumstances behind the fire and its rapid spread, with details on how to make submissions to be announced at a later date.