Over 400 homeowners from fire-hit Tai Po complex petition city leader for help meeting estate management

2026-03-16 - 23:35

More than 400 homeowners from the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have petitioned Hong Kong leader John Lee to facilitate a meeting between residents and the government-appointed administrator, Hop On Management. Black ribbons hang on railings near Wang Fuk Court on January 30, 2026, two months after a deadly fire. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. As of Monday afternoon, 431 flat owners – including representatives of those killed in the November inferno – had signed the letter, which was sent to Lee on Sunday and seen by HKFP. The letter urged the government to assist Hop On in holding a face-to-face meeting with owners to address unresolved issues regarding the fire-ravaged residential complex. The issues include future accommodation arrangements, the disbursement of public donations and insurance claims, and the management of remaining funds for the estate’s renovation and maintenance. Owners are also seeking the structural inspection reports for the estate’s eight towers. “Although some information has been released through existing channels, many details remained unclear, including the rationale for policymaking, timetables, follow-up actions and financial statements,” the Chinese-language letter read. “We believe that, only through a formal homeowners’ meeting, allowing every resident to directly pose their questions and receive immediate responses, can confusion be eliminated and consensus reached. The management of the estate will also become more transparent and credible.” Hop On, a subsidiary of property giant Chinachem Group, was appointed by the government as a temporary administrator of Wang Fuk Court to assist homeowners with post-fire recovery efforts, following the massive fire that killed 168 people and displaced thousands. Wang Fuk Court’s owners’ board was dissolved in January, after the Lands Tribunal ruled that