The government's support for the rebuilding of Wang Fuk Court will depend on structural assessments and the wishes of residents, according to Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen.
Mak's remark came after the deadly No.5 alarm fire in Tai Po, which burned for over 43 hours and resulted in over 140 deaths.
Speaking on a television program on Sunday (Nov 30), Mak stressed that the future assistance would be determined by building structure evaluations and resident preferences, noting that many affected homeowners – including retirees – had expressed deep concern about properties representing their lifetime investments.
Transitional housing support until homes rebuilt
In response to the tragedy, Mak reported a total of nine temporary shelters were established, accommodating over 700 affected residents.
With more residents moving into the transitional housing units and youth hostels, Mak noted the number of temporary shelters will gradually reduce, adding there were only 40 residents remaining in the two shelters in Tai Po as of Saturday (Nov 29).
When asked if the 1,800 transitional units would be sufficient, Mak reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring all residents have adequate accommodation following the incident.
"We will ensure flexible arrangements so every affected household has adequate accommodation," She stated, noting that families with school children would receive priority consideration for convenient locations.
Transitional housing and designated flats under the Housing Society will be available to residents until their homes are rebuilt, offered free of charge, she added.
Financial support for Wang Fuk Court residents
As for financial relief, Mak indicated that residents from all eight blocks of the estate, including the unaffected building, are eligible for a HK$10,000 emergency cash subsidy per household and a HK$50,000 living allowance.
"As of noon yesterday (Nov 29), we had distributed emergency subsidies to over 700 households," Mak said.
As for the government's Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Mak shared approximately HK$800 million in public donations, bolstered by an initial government contribution of HK$300 million, bringing the total to around HK$1.1 billion.
Mak explained that the fund aims to provide ongoing assistance, with various schemes in place, including education funds and reconstruction subsidies, designed to meet residents' needs.
To streamline assistance, Mak encouraged organizations to channel donations through the central fund rather than maintaining separate application processes.
To ensure proper use of funds, Mak emphasized that the government will implement strict oversight through the Audit Commission, with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau required to submit detailed handling guidelines.
Regarding emergency supplies, she reiterated that shelter centers currently have adequate provisions, with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau expected to launch a supply-matching platform within one to two days.
She also encouraged public donors to await specific need assessments before contributing additional materials.
Addressing potential regulatory concerns, Mak confirmed a dedicated working group will investigate the fire's causes and propose systemic improvements.
