Tai Po blaze: First owners’ meeting since blaze postponed, as gov’t vows to extend visas of fired domestic workers

A Wang Fuk Court property owners’ committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday– the first since last month’s deadly blaze – has been postponed, according to an online notice.

The owners’ corporation said the government-owned venue would not be able to accommodate the large crowd of residents who would like to attend.

A bouquet of flowers left on the roadside near Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, close to Kwong Fuk Park, on December 10, 2025. A deadly blaze broke out on November 26, 2025, and engulfed seven out of eight blocks of the housing estate. Photo: Kelly Ho/HKFP.

“After the corporation announced the management committee meeting for Wang Fuk Court owners, owners and residents actively responded, expressing their desire to attend,” the notice read in Chinese. “[D]ue to the size of the Tai Wo community hall, we cannot guarantee the smooth running of the meeting and we wish to prevent unnecessary chaos.”

The owners’ corporation said it is currently in communication with government departments to arrange a new venue, without saying when the meeting may be held.

According to Wednesday’s meeting agenda, owners were to set to discuss the condition of the fire safety system prior to the tragedy, insurance claims, and the financial accounts of the owners’ corporation.

The November 26 fire in Tai Po began in one of the eight towers and quickly ripped through another six buildings at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate. The spread of the flames was exacerbated by the use of foam board and substandard netting used during a complex-wide renovation, authorities say.

The blaze claimed at least 160 lives. Six people are still unaccounted for.

Police officers watch as volunteers clear items at a rest area set up to mourn victims of the Wang Fuk Estate on December 8, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

The meeting agenda mentioned a mourning ceremony for those who died in the fire. The committee also plans to terminate its contract with the construction company which led the renovation, Prestige Construction & Engineering Co, and the supervising consultancy firm, Will Power Architects.

The police have, so far, arrested 15 people from construction companies over alleged manslaughter and some over suspected fraud. Government departments conducted several inspections during the year-long renovation project.

Visas for affected domestic workers

Separately, the government announced on Monday night that domestic workers affected by the blaze will see a visa extension of three months as “visitors”, if employers terminate their contracts. Normally, such workers would have to leave the territory within two weeks.

The Immigration Department said in a press release that the policy would provide such workers more time to seek new employers in Hong Kong. Their visitor visas could be extended if necessary.

This photo, taken on November 30, 2025, shows people mourning the victims who died in the massive fire at Tai Po Wang Fuk Court, including migrant domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Fees for the visa extensions will be waived, the department has said.

Meanwhile, 1,883 affected households have been granted a living allowance of HK$100,000.

130 families of deceased victims have been provided with HK$200,000, as well as HK$50,000 to cover funeral costs, according to the government.

For each of the 110 affected domestic workers, authorities have provided a special subsidy of HK$20,000. For domestic workers who died in the fire, payment of HK$200,000 and a funeral grant of HK$50,000 will be given to each family. Injured domestic workers will see another grant of HK$50,000 or HK$100,000.