The government on Wednesday announced tax relief for affected owners and residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and waivers for rates, government rent, water charges, and sewage charges.
The government said that the decision was made in order to ease the financial burden on residents and the families of the deceased during this difficult time.
"We will waive the affected property owners' and residents' unsettled balance of tax payable for the year of assessment 2024/25 and the provisional tax payable for the year of assessment 2025/26,” the government spokesperson said.
This means that they will not need to settle the tax demand notes issued for the year of assessment 2024/25.
The government will also pay the government rent on behalf of the affected property owners and residents and waive the rates for domestic tenements that became inhabitable due to the fire.
"In addition, we will waive the residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po the water and sewage charges of July to November this year,” the government spokesperson said.
At the same time, the government thanked different organisations which have offered various support services to the affected residents.
“For instance, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited has waived the electricity tariffs of November for the affected customers and will arrange deposit refunds to them as soon as possible,” the government spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that various telecommunications operators have also provided assistance to the affected customers such as offering services fee waivers, free rental of smart phones and free pre-paid SIM cards, as well as Sinopec (Hong Kong) Gas Company Limited had offered a full waiver of liquefied petroleum gas bills of November for all affected customers.
