The investigation report on the recent residential complex fire will be completed within nine months, John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said at a press conference on Friday.

Lee also appointed Justice David Lok and two others to form an independent commission to investigate the fire's cause and examine whether related renovation projects had breached laws.

The fire broke out on November 26 in Tai Po. The death toll reached 160 by 4 p.m. Tuesday, with six people still missing, according to authorities.