Hong Kong authorities charge seven people after deadly fire

The blaze engulfed seven of the eight high-rise apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court estate in November. (Reuters: Tyrone Siu)

Hong Kong charged seven people and two companies over the world's deadliest residential building fire in decades.

The Wang Fuk Court blaze, which killed 168 people at a public housing estate last year, prompted a months-long investigation into the cause.

The charges included manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, 'money laundering', attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion.

Hong Kong authorities have charged seven people and two companies with offences including manslaughter following the city's deadliest fire in decades.

The massive blaze engulfed seven apartment buildings and killed 168 people in November.

Former residents and relatives of the dead have been waiting for answers for months after the fire shattered the close-knit community of Wang Fuk Court.

The Wang Fuk Court housing estate during the fire. (Reuters: Tyrone Siu)

In a statement on Wednesday, authorities said police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption charged the suspects with 25 counts.

Money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and tax evasion were also among the allegations.

The seven people played different roles in the major renovation project of Wang Fuk Court.

The two companies charged are the project consultancy firm and the main contractor involved in the project.

Evidence during the first hearing into the cause of a Hong Kong apartment complex blaze has heard a series of failures contributed to the deaths of 168 people.

The seven defendants, which include the directors of the two companies, were brought to court on Wednesday afternoon where they told the court they understood the charges against them.

In March, police said they arrested 38 people on accusations related to the complex, including manslaughter and fraud.

The anti-graft agency said in the same month that they also arrested 23 people on suspicion of offences such as bribery and conspiracy to defraud.

Victor Dawes, a lawyer representing an independent committee conducting an ongoing inquiry into the fire’s cause, previously said almost all fire safety systems failed on the day of the blaze because of human error.