Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) says it will launch a criminal investigation into renovation work at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex, where at least 55 people are known to have died so far.
In a statement, the ICAC said it had "established a special task force ... to conduct a full investigation into potential corruption in connection with the major renovation works".
The commission expressed its "deepest condolences to the victims of the fire."
The fire has engulfed seven of the eight apartment buildings in the Tai Po district. The fires are under control in four of them and officials hope to extinguish the remaining ones by evening.
According to the latest figures, Wang Fuk Court is home to around 4,600 residents. It is not clear how many were inside when the fire broke out.
