Hong Kong's leader announced Tuesday the creation of a judge-led "independent committee" to investigate the devastating fire at an apartment complex that killed 151 people last week.

Authorities have said the blaze, which was the city's worst fire in decades, spread quickly via netting used on exterior scaffolding that fell short of fire-resistance standards and failed to stop flames from spreading.

"I will establish an independent committee to conduct comprehensive and in-depth review to reform the building work system and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future," the city's leader John Lee told a news conference in English, adding that the committee would be led by a judge.

Hong Kong has a legal mechanism to set up "commissions of inquiry", which in the past were usuall

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