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Matthew Cheng

About 8 per cent of homeowners at the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong have yet to accept the government’s buy-back offer, which is set to expire at the end of this month.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday that 91.9 per cent of owners had submitted acceptance letters, while 65.7 per cent of owners had already signed sale and purchase agreements with the government.
Speaking to the media after a town hall meeting to gather views on the city’s first five-year plan and annual policy address, Lee said the process of transferring ownership was proceeding smoothly and in an orderly manner.
The blaze in November swept through seven of the Tai Po estate’s eight blocks, killing 168 people and displacing about 5,000 residents.
Owners have until August 31 to submit acceptance letters. After selling their homes and receiving compensation, they may either buy a property on the open market or join a special sales programme to acquire a new subsidised flat, using cash or under a flat-for-flat arrangement.
Those who had already indicated their intention to sell by June 30 are eligible for priority flat selection under the special sales programme.
Lee had earlier said on July 28 that 90.8 per cent of homeowners had accepted the offer, suggesting that only about an additional 1 per cent had agreed to sell their flats over the past two weeks.
Asked whether the government would resort to legal means to acquire any remaining flats, Lee said a decision would be made at a later stage.
“Whether we need to use legal means [to buy back the flats] will be decided at the final stage. But we will certainly proceed in an approach that fully complies with Hong Kong law,” he said.
“Our goal is to encourage residents to voluntarily accept the government’s buy-back offer … We hope everyone will make every effort to complete the acquisition soon, so that families at Wang Fuk Court can return to normal life as soon as possible.”

He described the acquisition price as a discretionary offer that had taken into account all relevant factors, adding that authorities had also organised visits to replacement flats to help residents make their decisions.
The buy-back plan followed the government’s announcement in February that it would spend about HK$6.8 billion (US$867 million) to acquire the affected flats, funded by HK$4 billion in public money and HK$2.8 billion from a donation-backed support fund.
The government later extended the offer to owners in Wang Chi House – the only block not damaged by the fire – at an estimated cost of HK$1 billion.
Sources previously revealed that a judge-led independent committee examining the causes of the deadly fire was expected to delay submitting its final report to late October, a month later than originally planned.
Lee acknowledged the large volume of documents and the complexity of the issues the committee needed to handle and reiterated his confidence in its work.
He added that the government would attach great importance to following up on the recommendations in the committee’s final report.


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8% of owners at fire-hit Hong Kong estate yet to accept buy-back as deadline nears

Wang Fuk Court home owners leave after attending an extraordinary general meeting at Kai Tak Community Hall on July 19. Photo: Edmond So

Chief Executive John Lee meets the media after the town hall at Kowloon Tong Government Primary School. Photo: Edmond So

Flat owners at Wang Fuk Court have until August 31 to submit acceptance letters for the buy-back offer. Photo: Karma Lo

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Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Jelly Tse

The November 26 inferno killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 others. Photo: Elson Li

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 Wang Fuk Court homeowners arrive for the extraordinary general at the Tai Po Community Centre. Photo: Karma Lo

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Asked whether government will turn to legal means to acquire remaining flats, chief executive says decision will be made at later stage


Asked whether government will turn to legal means to acquire remaining flats, chief executive says decision will be made at later stage.


John Lee

Hong Kong fires and safety

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong housing

8% of owners at fire-hit Hong Kong estate yet to accept buy-back as deadline nears

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Asked whether government will turn to legal means to acquire remaining flats, chief executive says decision will be made at later stage

Asked whether government will turn to legal means to acquire remaining flats, chief executive says decision will be made at later stage