An electrician who worked for Wang Fuk Court's property management firm said he was unaware that shutting off the power supply to fire pumps would also affect fire alarm systems at all eight of its blocks, an independent committee probing last November's inferno has heard.

Law Kwok-shui, an employee of ISS Eastpoint, told Wednesday's hearing that he was told to assist Prestige Construction and Engineering – the main contractor for the Tai Po estate's major-renovation works – with draining fire water tanks, which involved turning off the main switches that controlled firefighting pumps.

The worker admitted that he had no idea the move would affect the fire alarm systems, and he would not have done so if he had known.

He also said he had reached out to ISS clerk Lok Sin-ying to notify her that only a licensed fire services contractor could handle such work.

Law said he feared that he would be punished if he had failed to carry out the instructions.

Lok told the inquiry a day ago that she could not remember if Law had consulted her.

The inquiry also heard from ISS technical officer Lam Man-yan, who said he was unaware that two of his subordinates had helped Prestige drain the tanks.

The committee's head, David Lok, said it was "strange" that the technical officer was not involved.

Lok Sin-ying, the ISS clerk who was testifying for a second day, also said there were unfair comments made against her after what she said at the hearing was inconsistent with that of another employee.

She also responded to criticism that staff members of the management office did nothing after the fire broke out, saying security guards had proactively rushed to knock on doors to alert residents.

Meanwhile, David Lok again appealed to the public to be objective and rational.

He also said the committee refrained from live-streaming the hearing over doxxing concerns.



Edited by Edmond Fong