The immediate priority for Hong Kong officials dealing with the displacement from the catastrophic Wang Fuk Court incident must be the rapid rehousing of affected families, potentially bypassing a lengthy on-site reconstruction process. This approach, which prioritizes using existing public housing stock, is gaining traction among experts who argue that rebuilding on the original site may be too slow and psychologically challenging for residents.
Speaking out about the disaster’s aftermath, Vincent Ho Kui-yip, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Building Safety, urged the government to repurpose vacant Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats across the territory to provide permanent accommodation swiftly. He asserted that while a detailed assessment of the damaged Tai Po estate is ongoing, logistical and emotional realities suggest that immediate resettlement must take precedence over an uncertain, multi-year rebuild.
Repair or Demolish: A Complex Technical Decision
The devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court, which severely impacted some of the seven residential blocks, requires an intensive, professional structural appraisal before any long-term decisions regarding repair or demolition can be made. Ho cautioned that the intense heat—reportedly reaching an estimated 500 degrees Celsius—combined with the massive volume of water used during firefighting operations, can inflict significant, often hidden damage to concrete and internal steel structures.
Experts must determine whether crucial load-bearing elements in key buildings have been fatally compromised. While the more heavily damaged blocks likely face economically unviable restoration, the lesser-affected sections require meticulous, unit-by-unit technical evaluations, accompanied by comprehensive community consultation.
Ho estimated that a traditional same-site reconstruction project, encompassing design, tendering, and completion, would consume at least four years and incur costs between HK$4 billion and HK$5 billion. Furthermore, given the significant casualties and trauma associated with the location, many of the nearly 2,000 affected households may understandably be reluctant to return to the rebuilt site.
Rethinking Housing Authority’s Role
Concerns have also been raised over the proposed involvement of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in the recovery effort. Ho suggested that the URA’s strained financial resources and extensive existing project load make it an unideal candidate. Instead, he proposed that the Housing Authority, which possesses greater land and housing resources, is better equipped to manage the large-scale relief effort.
The scale of the displacement—nearly 2,000 households—demands an “exceptional and flexible” government-led solution, Ho argued. Rather than confining these families to lengthy waiting periods for new homes in the same district, he advocates for a decentralized approach.
Key Actionable Steps for Expediting Rehousing:
- Allocate Existing Stock: Immediately assign available HOS flats citywide to affected families, offering decentralized, permanent rehousing options.
- Coordinate Large-Scale Relief: Utilize the Housing Authority’s capacity to manage the significant number of displaced residents and offer diverse housing solutions.
- Prioritize Consensus: Ensure any reconstruction plan, whether phased or total, fully respects the wishes and consensus of the flat owners.
While considering alternative development sites, such as the areas near Kwong Fuk Park, Ho stressed the necessity of long-term planning. Such proposals require thorough environmental impact studies, especially regarding proximity to industrial zones, and must address infrastructure limitations concerning transport, sewage, noise pollution, and fire safety protocols along Ting Kok Road.
By focusing on prompt, permanent resettlement through available public housing stock, the government can address the immediate humanitarian needs while professionals conduct the necessary, complex evaluations to determine the future of the disaster site. This approach offers the shortest path to recovery for thousands of displaced residents.