The government applied on Friday to the Lands Tribunal to dissolve the current owners' corporation management committee at fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and appoint a professional manager.
Secretary of Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen, alongside senior officials, announced the first-ever use of section 31 of the Building Management Ordinance to appoint Chinachem Group's Ho On Management as administrator without fees.
The move addresses unprecedented challenges, including major repairs, contract follow-ups, maintenance accounts, insurance claims, and post-contract management and security.
Officials recognized residents' immense difficulties and uncertainty, noting committee members' heavy burdens amid personal needs, with some calling for government intervention.
If approved, the Nina Wang trust will donate HK$5 million for legal, contractual, and professional expenses to ease owners' financial load.
The manager accesses corporation records like contracts, policies, and bank balances and hires experts for advice but requires owners' meetings and consent for actions.
A dedicated Home Affairs Department team will oversee progress, with monthly government reports and quarterly tribunal updates for transparency and efficiency, without a fixed duration due to complexity.
Mak stressed this replaces only the committee, not the corporation, preserving owners' rights with enhanced professional support.
The decision follows careful assessment, unrelated to past ICAC arrests of former chairs, without prior consultation of the current committee or owners.
