Bamboo Becomes Identity Issue for Some Hong Kongers After Blaze

Bamboo scaffolding has become a focus of debate in Hong Kong after last Wednesday’s tragic fire in the territory left at least 146 dead and spurred questions over whether its use contributed to the inferno.

While mainland China has shifted to metal frames to support building and maintenance projects, Hong Kong still relies on thousands of skilled workers who specialize in tying lighter, cheaper and abundant bamboo poles together. Along with double-decker trams that rattle along crowded streets and ferries that traverse its harbor, bamboo-clad buildings have long been a distinctive feature of the territory.