Hong Kong’s leader John Lee pledged to launch an independent committee over the city’s deadliest fire in nearly eight decades, while vowing to crackdown on forces that “sabotage” social unity.

“We have to expose the truth, do everyone justice and make sure the deceased can rest in peace,” said Lee at a Tuesday briefing, standing behind a black background and wearing a dark tie. “We should turn our anger and sorrow into the power of reform.”

A judge will lead the committee to review systemic causes behind the fire and its results will be made public, Lee said, while confirming legislative elections planned for Dec. 7 would go ahead.

An independent committee could carry less weight than a Commission of Inquiry. The latter has subpoena powers similar to a court, and can compel witnesses to testify under oath, whereas a generic committee relies on voluntary cooperation.

Opening a Commission of Inquiry has been a common move after fatal tragedies in Hong Kong. That was the response after another deadly fire in a commercial building in 1996 and the Lamma ferry crash in 2012 that cost 39 lives. Such an inquiry into police brutality was one of the protesters’ “five demands” in 2019.

Lee brought a message of sweeping reform to his first weekly briefing since a fire tore through a high-rise estate killing at least 156 people, and leaving 30 missing. The inferno has stoked a level of public anger not seen since major street protests about six years ago, with online petitions signed by thousands calling for an independent investigation.

Authorities have threatened action against anyone who attempts to create unrest. Lee reiterated that message, while avoiding a question about media reports three people have been arrested on national security charges.

“Society, everybody in Hong Kong, is uniting to help those who suffered to continue living and face the future,” he said, raising his voice. “Anybody who dares to sabotage this commitment to society, we will do anything that we can to ensure justice.”

In a stark contrast to the highly choreographed press briefings in mainland China, Lee was directly asked by a reporter whether he should step down, after such a large death toll occurred under his stewardship. The former police officer replied that criminals who commit offenses must be held to justice. No Hong Kong chief executive has served the full two terms allowed since the city returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

So far, accountability has fallen on senior figures at the companies overseeing renovation at Wang Fuk Court, as investigators discover the fire was accelerated by workers using cheaper, substandard netting and evading government testing.

Hong Kong’s police have arrested 15 people on suspicion of manslaughter over the blaze, which incinerated an estate in northern Hong Kong once home to 4,600 people.

Regulators had issued repeated written warnings urging the contractor to put proper fire-prevention measures in place at the eight-tower complex, including as recently as a week before the fire, the Labour Department said last week.

Aid to helpers

In a separate briefing on Tuesday, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said the city will offer compensation and financial assistance to domestic workers impacted by the tragedy.

Families of those who died are entitled to about HK$800,000 ($102,710), while injured workers will get one-time assistance of HK$50,000 or HK$100,000, depending on the necessary time of hospitalization.

Ten domestic workers died in the Wang Fuk Court fire, according to Sun, while three were injured and 192 are safe. Thirty people are still missing, authorities said on Tuesday.

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—With assistance from Kiuyan Wong, Pui Gwen Yeung, Felix Tam, Alfred Liu, Balazs Penz and Twinnie Siu.

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