Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy
Latest news and updates on the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district that killed 168 people, including a firefighter. Scores of people were also hurt.
Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po
Bank of China account: 012 8752 190 1597
Hong Kong Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org.hk/en/index.html
Operation Santa Claus Emergency Appeal
https://oschk.org/
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council
https://www.skhwc.org.hk/en/
Hong Kong Family Welfare Society
https://www.hkfws.org.hk/en/home
Po Leung Kuk
https://www.poleungkuk.org.hk/en
Feeding Hong Kong
https://feedinghk.org/
The inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has prompted proposals to amend the Building Management Ordinance. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong society

Bar Association urges proxy cap, electronic voting to curb building bid-rigging

Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet expresses reservations about a proposal limiting proxies to only two classes of people.

videocam
Hong Kong politics

Civil servants may face disciplinary action over Tai Po fire if named in report

videocam
Hong Kong society

New mechanism to strengthen oversight of renovations after Tai Po fire: minister

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong lawmakers back 5-year plan as firms urged to align with blueprint

Liaison office chief calls on mainland firms to align themselves with five-year plan and play a greater role in city’s economic development.

Lawmakers held a three-day debate on the five-year plan and the annual policy address Photo: Karma Lo
The first five-year plan was released last month. Photo: Kit Lai
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong prepares reforms, accountability measures ahead of Tai Po fire report

City leader John Lee pledges to pursue accountability and implement comprehensive reforms as soon as possible after receiving independent committee’s report.

Hong Kong housing

‘Better than expected’: 73,800 subdivided flats apply for 3-year grace period

Landlords who applied between March and August qualified for a waiver of HK$3,000 in recognition fees per subdivided flat until February 2029.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong housing

Early birds for Wang Fuk Court buy-back get first pick of subsidised houses

Some residents pleased with new homes offered under schemes, with others calling for stamp duty waivers to help ease financial burden.

A special arrangement gives priority selection to the first 35 households that signed their letters of acceptance by June 30, giving them the pick of 4,400 flats at 10 subsidised housing estates. Photo: Kit Lai
Residents look over a layout for one of the available subsidised housing estates. Photo: Kit Lai
Hong Kong

District councillor Peggy Wong resigns amid proxy-vote claims after Tai Po blaze

Wong, who has been criticised for her links to former owners’ committee of fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, cites health reasons for stepping down.

4
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong to bar firms with integrity offences from building renovation lists

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn says applications to pre-qualify will open next Wednesday and lists rolled out by year-end.

Hong Kong society

Top official to determine responsible department in complex 1823 cases

When assigning complaints that involve more than one government department, responsibility will be fairly distributed, Warner Cheuk says.

A new handling mechanism for the 1823 hotline is set to be implemented early next year. Photo: ISD
John Lee policy address 2026

Hong Kong leader pledges building maintenance reforms after fatal Tai Po fire

Government will conduct a legal study on criminalising bid-rigging in major building maintenance works and submit a proposal to the Legislative Council this year.

The fire, which ripped through Wang Fuk Court in November while the estate was undergoing major renovations, killed 168 residents. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong court winds up Wang Fuk Court renovation consultant over debt

Will Power Architects, involved in HK$336 million renovation project at estate, is ordered wound up after failing to oppose creditor’s application.

Hong Kong

85% of Wang Fuk Court owners sign sale deals as flat selection moves ahead

Housing Bureau holds computerised ballot to set flat-selection order, posts results online as rehousing scheme moves into next phase.

Hong Kong housing

Letters | Ensuring building safety in Hong Kong an uphill struggle

Readers discuss efforts to reduce shoddy work in building renovation, signs on expressways, and classic Hong Kong comedy films.

An old residential building in San Po Kong on September 19, 2025. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong economy

In Focus | Why softer focus on national security in Hong Kong’s 5-year plan won’t happen

Experts expect John Lee’s policy address to set ambitious governance agenda on various social and economic issues, but security will underpin them all.

11
Credit: Brian Wang
Hong Kong

Buildings Department files 259 charges over work at fire-ravaged Hong Kong estate

Charges against two firms, four individuals relate to alleged use of substandard materials and failure to properly supervise repairs.

Crime in Hong Kong

Letters | Bid-rigging isn’t new. Hong Kong must revisit old complaints

Readers discuss reforms to the system around building renovation projects, and a lesson from Zhu Rongji’s life.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong housing

75.8% of flat owners at block unscathed by Tai Po fire agree to sell

Housing Bureau says 188 households at Wang Chi House have signed sale and purchase agreements as part of buy-back scheme.

Wang Chi House was the only block to be spared the worst of the fire at Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Deal reached on Wang Fuk Court flats clears the way for recovery

Resolving resettlement for most Tai Po fire victims now paves the way for the next essential step towards closure: full accountability.

Hong Kong courts

Couple who survived Tai Po fire await trial for fraud, cannot leave Hong Kong

Wang Fuk Court residents allegedly obtained more than HK$330,000 in government-backed loans by overstating drop in revenue of their business.

Hong Kong

Nearly all Wang Fuk Court owners accept deal, leaving 17 holdouts as offer ends

17 of 1,984 Wang Fuk Court owners fail to accept offer as deadline ends, facing compulsory acquisition at lower compensation levels.

4
By the cut‑off time at 5pm on Monday, 1,967, or 99.1 per cent, of the fire-hit estate’s 1,984 flat owners had returned acceptance letters. Photo: Sun Yeung
Hong Kong

Hong Kong gives 45 Wang Fuk Court holdouts final call on buyout scheme

As of noon on Sunday, 1,939 of estate’s 1,984 flat owners have submitted acceptance letters, while 77.7 per cent have signed sale and purchase agreements.

A view of the blaze-hit Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Under the acquisition scheme, the government will buy flats at HK$8,000 or HK$10,500 per square foot, depending on whether the land premium has been paid. Photo: Jelly Tse
Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong school opens at new Tai Po campus after deadly Wang Fuk Court blaze

Nearly 600 Tai Po Baptist Public School pupils to begin new term at renovated campus after months of disruption split across two temporary sites.

Hong Kong

Why some Wang Fuk Court owners have refused buy-back deal even as deadline nears

While acquisition price for flats at fire-ravaged estate is seen as generous, about 3.5 per cent of homeowners have not accepted offer.

4
Hong Kong

Hong Kong rules out Wang Fuk Court buy-back extension as 100 owners hesitate

Deputy finance chief Michael Wong warns of ‘substantially lower’ compensation at later stage if government uses legal means to acquire flats.

videocam
Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. About 5 per cent of owners remained undecided about buy-back terms. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong society

Government still weighing decision on restricting proxy voters, official says

Proposed changes to law on buildings management meant to combat bid-rigging but limits to proxy votes could be too strict, home affairs director says.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court, Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades, killed 168 people and displaced about 5,000 others last November. Photo: Karma Lo
Hong Kong society

Inquiry’s final report into deadly Hong Kong fire delayed until end of October

Panel says it has asked Chief Executive John Lee for deadline extension, citing complexity of issues and large volume of documents it must review.

Hong Kong

Supplier says subcontractor ordered non-fire-retardant nets before Tai Po blaze

Documents released by independent panel investigating the deadly Wang Fuk Court blaze detail Gain Profit’s orders for non-compliant nets.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement