Govt prioritises long-term housing solutions for affected Tai Po fire residents

Authorities are actively gathering resident feedback through surveys and refining housing options to ensure suitable long-term accommodation for those impacted from the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court, while balancing fairness, resources and legal considerations.

The government has placed strong emphasis on securing stable, long-term living arrangements for affected residents of the Wang Fuk Court fire.

A “one household, one social worker” questionnaire has been distributed, with around 90% of impacted owners responding so far.

An emergency accommodation task force is analyzing preferences across different options and reviewing schemes to offer more choices. The Housing Bureau and Housing Department are also exploring various housing projects to provide appropriate rehousing as quickly as possible.

Officials acknowledge the complexity of the situation, with each household having unique needs and public opinions varying widely.

Any final plan must consider compassion, reason, and law while carefully managing public resources, funding, housing allocation and property rights issues, alongside smooth transitional arrangements.

The government is committed to transparency, providing clear information so residents can make informed decisions.

The survey outlined multiple pathways, including cash buyouts, selling current ownership then purchasing subsidized flats, or “flat-for-flat” exchanges, accompanied by objective details on timelines, technical complexity and legal responsibilities.

Authorities believe early decisions by affected families will speed up rebuilding efforts.

Work continues at full pace, with accountability ensured for all responsible parties based on facts and evidence.

The focus remains on supporting impacted households to settle quickly and resume normal life.