Beijing has launched a nationwide fire safety inspection and remediation campaign following the devastating Hong Kong residential building fire that claimed at least 128 lives. The initiative, announced Saturday by the Work Safety Committee of the State Council, China’s cabinet, aims to address fire hazards in all high-rise buildings, including residential towers, offices, hospitals, and shopping complexes, according to state media reports.
The campaign will focus on “identifying and rectifying” fire risks, with particular attention paid to buildings undergoing renovations or refurbishments. Key areas of concern include unsafe construction practices, the use of flammable materials, malfunctioning fire protection systems, and inadequate daily safety management.
Authorities stated the goal is “to comprehensively strengthen fire safety management in high‑rise buildings and effectively safeguard people’s lives and property.”
The Hong Kong blaze in the Tai Po district is considered one of the world’s worst residential building disasters since 1980 and the city’s deadliest in eight decades. approximately 150 people remain unaccounted for as Hong Kong observes a three-day period of mourning.
