Hong Kong’s leader has ordered the establishment of an independent inquiry committee, chaired by a judge, to investigate the cause of the deadly fire in Tai Po which has so far claimed 151 lives.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday ahead of his weekly meeting with the city’s key decision-making Executive Council that authorities will set up the committee to find out the truth and enable a “systematic change”.

“As criminal investigations are ongoing, I will set up an independent commission chaired by a judge to review why the fire broke out and spread so fast,” he said.

He will be in touch with the judiciary to have a judge to chair the committee, which will conduct its work in “high efficiency”.

The fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last Wednesday killed at least 151 people, with 39 people still unaccounted for.