Following the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire, Hong Kong's Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun has outlined resettlement options, including building subsidised flats in Tai Po, while prioritising residents' input.
In response to the November 26 inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po—which killed at least 160 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents—a government task force led by Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun is prioritising long-term housing solutions.
Building on earlier relief measures like the HK$100,000 subsidies for affected owners and the HK$3.4 billion support fund, Wong detailed options on Saturday including: purchasing property rights from homeowners, prioritising displaced residents for Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats, constructing new flats in Tai Po, and public housing placements for eligible individuals.
'We are confident that we can find a place in Tai Po to build these units as soon as possible,' Wong said, noting typical HOS projects take five years but expressing optimism for acceleration without a specific timeline.
Authorities stressed consulting residents first to tailor plans, aiming to address ongoing housing needs post-fire.