Main switches that controlled both fire pumps and alarms at all eight Wang Fuk Court buildings were found to be turned off a week before the deadly fire ravaged the estate, a contractor providing fire services maintenance said on Monday.

An electrician from the contractor, Victory Fire Engineering, also said its task of testing newly installed equipment following repairs was "unfinished".

At a hearing probing the inferno, Wong Kin-wa, an electrical worker from Victory Fire Engineering, said he did not spot any irregularities with the water tanks on the roofs of the buildings at the Tai Po estate during an annual inspection in March 2025.

He said when the firm revisited the site for maintenance work on November 19, his colleague found that the main switches controlling fire alarms and pumps at all blocks had been turned off.

Wong recalled asking the estate's management office for shutdown notices – which were required if the main switches had been turned off for over 24 hours – and the office said the switches were deactivated by another fire services contractor for water tank repair works.

The management staff failed to provide such documents, he added.

Barrister Lee Shu-wun, representing the independent committee, noted that Wong could not carry out part of his duties to test the newly installed equipment as the switch was turned off.

"Would you agree that your job was actually unfinished?" he asked, and the electrical worker said it was so.

Wong also said he did not look further into which contractor was behind the closed main switches when questioned by lawyer Jenkin Suen, who was representing the government in the inquiry.

"The contractor should know what it is doing, so I didn't question it," Wong replied, adding he had not considered submitting a shutdown notice to the Fire Services Department.

The hearing continues on Tuesday during which Victory Fire's director, Chung Kit-man, is expected to give testimony.

The committee had originally planned to call Wong, Chung and another electrician with the company on the same day.


Edited by Tony Sabine