Hong Kong authorities are rapidly advancing complex recovery and support operations in the wake of the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, emphasizing structural safety, financial relief, and expedited rehousing for thousands of displaced residents. Coordinated efforts across multiple government bureaus and departments are focused on debris removal, critical structural repairs, comprehensive financial aid disbursements, and establishing stringent new construction safety regulations to prevent future catastrophes.
Structural Recovery and Safety Overhaul
The challenging phase of post-fire structural stabilization has begun, spearheaded by the Housing Department and the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU). Starting Friday, December 12, the burned, external scaffolding surrounding Wang Cheong, Wang Tai, and Wang Sun Houses is scheduled for removal in coordination with the Police. Concurrently, the ICU is working on severely affected units by performing concrete wall grouting and installing temporary propping for compromised floor slabs, ensuring immediate structural integrity where required.
In response to potential issues surrounding construction material compliance, the Buildings Department (BD), after confirming the removal of all external scaffold nets as previously ordered, announced a significant new regulatory framework. This regime mandates on-site sampling and third-party certification of all scaffold nets prior to installation, aiming to allow essential façade repair works to resume promptly while enhancing overall site safety.
Furthermore, the Labour Department (LD) has significantly ramped up maintenance site inspections, particularly those involving large-scale scaffolding. To date, 404 construction sites have been checked, resulting in substantial enforcement actions including 210 written warnings, 104 improvement notices, and 25 prosecutions, underscoring the government’s commitment to strict enforcement of revamped safety protocols.
Expedited Financial and Welfare Support
Financial assistance for the affected community has grown substantially. Donations to the Government’s Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court have reached approximately $3.1 billion, supplementing the government’s initial $300 million seed funding for a total pool nearing $3.4 billion dedicated to sustained recovery.
Key financial disbursements have been expedited:
- The living allowance for affected households has doubled from $50,000 to $100,000, with 1,717 cases processed thus far.
- Families of the deceased are receiving a solidarity payment of $200,000, plus $50,000 for funeral expenses; 109 claims have been processed.
- Flat owners across all eight blocks at Wang Fuk Court will receive a new one-off grant of $100,000 from the fund.
Rehousing and Community Mobilization
The rehousing operation is proceeding rapidly under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau. As of the latest update, 1,435 residents have been placed in temporary accommodations such as hotel rooms, youth hostels, and camps. An additional 2,677 residents are lodged in transitional housing provided by the Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Society. Temporary shelters are phasing down operations as residents transition into more stable emergency accommodations.
Community support remains high, facilitated by a government-run online donation platform. This platform has registered over 1,700 contributions, allocating vital supplies—including food, clothing, bedding, and appliances—to those in need. More than 16,300 donated items have been successfully distributed, with further matching and deliveries underway.
Legal and Task Force Coordination
The Legal Aid Department (LAD) has activated a dedicated task force to provide legal assistance for personal injury, property damage, and related claims arising from the November 26 fire. The LAD is working closely with the Social Welfare Department’s “one social worker per household” scheme, establishing a special hotline (2867 4516 or 2399 2277), and streamlining processing to ensure affected residents receive timely legal representation. Residents are strongly advised to consult the LAD before incurring unnecessary private legal costs.
Overall recovery management is being overseen by three dedicated government task forces focusing on Investigation and Regulation, Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and Emergency Accommodation. The Social Welfare Department has maintained direct contact with over 1,980 affected households, ensuring continuous follow-up services for the 4,900-plus residents who have registered for comprehensive support throughout the entirety of the recovery period.