Hong Kong's leader said on Tuesday that an independent committee will investigate the cause of the city's deadliest fire in decades, after authorities found substandard building materials had accelerated the blaze, which killed 151 people last week.

The fire engulfed seven residential towers under construction on the northern fringes of Hong Kong, displacing thousands of people and fuelling public demands for accountability.

Hong Kong's anti-corruption watchdog and police, running a joint investigation, have arrested 14 people, 13 of them on suspicion of manslaughter.

In a preliminary survey, officials found that the netting used on exterior scaffolding fell short of fire-resistance standards and failed to stop flames from spreading.

"I will establish an independent committee to conduc

See Full Page