The decision follows a tragic fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex, prompting authorities to prioritise stronger protections for residents and workers.

The government issued instructions for both public and private buildings to dismantle the mesh by Saturday, describing the action as essential for restoring confidence in the safety of housing estates.

Officials emphasized that rapid intervention was necessary to ease public anxiety and reduce the risk of future incidents.

The fire, which swept through seven high-rise blocks on Nov. 26, has become the city’s deadliest in decades.

Investigators say substandard scaffolding mesh and insulation materials played a major role in intensifying the blaze as it spread across the towers.

Renovation work throughout the city is expected to pause temporarily as authorities conduct inspections to confirm compliance with updated safety protocols.

The review will assess materials, installation standards and documentation to ensure higher reliability before any project resumes.

At a housing estate in Sha Tin, workers began dismantling the protective netting early on Thursday as part of the citywide effort.

Residents expressed relief, with many saying the removal was an important step toward preventing similar accidents in the future.

Eighty-two-year-old resident C.K. Lau said removing the nets brought comfort to the community.

He noted that residents had long been concerned about fire hazards linked to renovation materials and were reassured by the government’s decision.

Authorities have detained 21 people in connection with the incident as part of an expanded investigation aimed at uncovering lapses in safety oversight.

Among those arrested are senior figures from major construction firms suspected of manslaughter, along with several individuals facing fraud allegations.

Officials said poorly manufactured plastic mesh and insulation foam used at the site contributed to the intensity of the 40-hour blaze.

Investigators also found that some fire alarms were not functioning properly at the time of the incident.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court had previously raised concerns about fire risks during renovation, although they were informed that the overall danger was relatively low.

The incident has renewed calls for more transparent assessments and stricter enforcement of safety measures.

Hong Kong’s leadership has responded by establishing a judge-led committee to examine the fire’s causes and recommend comprehensive reforms.

The committee will also review how renovation projects are monitored, ensuring greater accountability for contractors and regulators.

More than 200 private buildings and over a dozen public structures will now be required to remove the scaffolding nets.

Authorities said that contractors must bear the full cost of the dismantling to ensure that residents are not burdened by the expense.

The building department plans to issue an updated code of practice next week, introducing new rules for sampling and certifying scaffolding material.

Under the changes, nets can only be installed after being tested and verified by accredited laboratories.

Authorities are also examining suspected false safety certificates issued for materials imported from a manufacturer based in Shandong.

One of the sites using the questionable netting was linked to the main contractor involved at Wang Fuk Court.

The city continues to identify victims from the fire, with 140 individuals confirmed so far, ranging from infants to elderly residents.

Officials say the priority now is strengthening safety systems to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.

Officials said the arrests involve individuals suspected of manslaughter, with early findings indicating that substandard renovation materials significantly worsened the scale and speed of the fire.

Police teams continued their search of the seven severely damaged residential towers at the Wang Fuk Court estate, where the blaze erupted during renovation works.

Officers have recovered numerous victims from stairwells, rooftops and upper floors, where many residents became trapped as they attempted to escape heavy smoke and flames.

Authorities said more than 40 individuals remain unaccounted for, and emergency teams cautioned that some victims may never be fully identified due to the extent of the damage.

Investigators noted that certain remains were reduced to ash, complicating recovery efforts as search operations move into structurally compromised areas.

Officials investigating the fire confirmed that a green mesh covering the bamboo scaffolding around the buildings failed to meet fire-retardant standards.

Tests showed that contractors had used unapproved materials in concealed locations, making it difficult for inspectors to detect the violations before the incident.

Authorities also said foam insulation used during the renovation contributed to the fire’s rapid spread, while fire alarms across parts of the complex were not functioning properly at the time.

These factors combined to fuel a disaster that continued burning for days, leaving widespread destruction across the densely populated estate.

The tragedy has prompted thousands of residents and community members to pay their respects, forming long lines of mourners near the site.

Among the victims were several foreign domestic workers, deepening the emotional impact on Hong Kong’s large expatriate community.

Vigils are scheduled to take place throughout the week in cities including Tokyo, London and Taipei, reflecting the far-reaching grief felt by families abroad.

While the city continues to mourn, officials are facing growing public frustration over earlier safety warnings that went unaddressed.

Authorities acknowledged that residents had previously raised concerns about scaffolding materials and fire hazards associated with renovation works.

Despite these complaints, assessments at the time categorized the estate as carrying relatively low fire risk, a finding now under renewed scrutiny.

Residents who escaped the blaze are now attempting to rebuild their lives, with thousands displaced from their homes in the aftermath.

More than a thousand people have been relocated from evacuation centers to temporary housing, while hundreds more have been placed in youth hostels and hotels.

Many survivors left without essential belongings, prompting authorities to distribute emergency financial support to affected households.

Government offices have also streamlined procedures for replacing lost identity cards, passports and legal documents to assist displaced families.

The fire, the deadliest since a 1948 warehouse blaze, has shocked Hong Kong at a politically sensitive moment, with local elections scheduled to take place soon.

The timing has fueled heightened tensions surrounding public response, community activism and calls for accountability.

Public petitions demanding an independent investigation into construction oversight and potential corruption have drawn significant attention.

Authorities have detained several individuals in connection with protest-related activities, citing violations of local security and public-order laws.

Hong Kong’s national security office issued a warning against attempts to use the tragedy for political mobilization, urging residents to avoid actions that could trigger unrest.

Officials stated that any efforts to exploit the incident for disorder would result in legal consequences.

Search operations continue in the most heavily damaged sections of the estate, where structural instability and hazardous conditions are slowing progress.

Police said the final stages of the search may take weeks as teams sift through burnt-out interiors, water-damaged rooms and collapsed sections of the towers.

Despite the challenges, authorities stress that the investigation remains a top priority and that accountability will be pursued across all levels of oversight.

The city remains in mourning as families await updates, hoping for closure in a disaster that has reshaped local conversations around safety, regulation and public trust.