The Tai Po District Council held its first meeting of 2026 on Tuesday to discuss follow-up arrangements after the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court last November, with the timeline for residents to return to their homes still unclear.
District Councilor Peggy Wong Pik-kiu, who has faced public criticism over her role in supporting the HK$330 million renovation project at Wang Fuk Court, arrived just in time for the meeting.
She said she has remained in close contact with residents since the incident, noting that many elderly occupants are eager to know when the government will lift the lockdown and allow them to return.
Wong urged the authorities to announce a clear recovery and rehousing timeline as soon as possible, and called on the government to identify suitable sites within the district for the construction of new residential buildings.
Another councilor, Lee Hon-cheung, said many affected residents are anxious to re-enter their flats to retrieve personal belongings, while others are worried about the security of their units during the prolonged closure.
In response, the police force’s Tai Po District Commander Kelvin Kong Wing-cheung said officers have maintained a 24-hour cordon at Wang Fuk Court. Access to the buildings is restricted, and only authorized personnel are allowed to enter under police escort.
Kong explained that, due to ongoing investigations as well as the dismantling of scaffolding and safety netting, it is not feasible at this stage to arrange for residents to return to their units to collect belongings.
Lee also raised concerns about the resumption of classes at schools affected by the incident, as well as funding arrangements for those that may need to relocate temporarily.
Separately, the Home Affairs Department has proposed setting up a building management task force under each of Hong Kong’s 18 District Councils.
According to Tai Po District Council documents, the task force chairperson will be appointed by the District Council chairperson. Seventeen councilors, including Wong, have joined the task force so far.
