An independent committee investigating the cause of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades has begun hearings following the 2025 blaze that killed 168 people. The fire, which engulfed seven buildings and destroyed hundreds of people, was the most likely cause of the fire, according to lead lawyer Victor Dawes. He stated that multiple failures including the use of non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting and blocking windows with foam boards were a series of human factors that contributed to the disaster. Dawes also highlighted the failure of nearly all fire safety systems meant to protect lives due to human factors, including human negligence and an outdated fire retardancy report. The committee will also examine if systemic problems occurred in large-scale building maintenance and renovation works. So far, 38 people have been arrested on various charges related to the complex, including manslaughter and fraud, and 23 have been charged.