The Hong Kong government expresses confidence that 75% of homeowners in Wang Chi House, the only block unaffected by the Wang Fuk Court fire, will accept its buy-back package.

A public inquiry into the deadly Tai Po blaze has heard testimony from multiple government departments regarding authorities' oversight during a major renovation at Wang Fuk Court prior to the tragedy.

Hong Kong authorities have pledged to intervene in landlord-tenant disputes at the fire-damaged Wang Fuk Court, which are preventing residents from retrieving their belongings. Packing efforts at the site have been ongoing for ten days.

Hong Kong authorities announced they will extend their buyout plan to include flats in the Wang Fuk Court block unaffected by a deadly fire, provided 75% of owners agree to sell their properties.

An independent committee in Hong Kong is scrutinizing the roles of building repair works and calling for higher qualifications and supervision following the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire.

Residents of Hong Kong's fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court, including 77-year-old Hon Wing, climbed multiple floors to retrieve family treasures from their flats, often leaving with little.

About 600 families affected by the fire at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court have requested a second visit to their flats as residents of the most damaged tower return to salvage belongings.

Labour Department officers testified in a public inquiry into the fatal Wang Fuk Court fire, stating that on-site inspections found no evidence of workers smoking, despite repeated resident complaints.

A public inquiry into Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades heard that authorities and homeowners' representatives took no proactive steps against alleged vote rigging at the Wang Fuk Court subsidized housing estate.

Residents of Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court are preparing for an emotional return to their homes after a deadly fire last November destroyed much of the housing estate.

A group of survivors of the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire have petitioned Hong Kong’s top officials twice in a week, urging the government to rebuild the fire-ravaged residential estate on site and to…

A Fire Services Department commander testified before a probe committee that there was no record of firefighter Ho Wai-ho entering a building at the fatal Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po before his death. The testimony was given on the 11th day of the inquiry.

A public inquiry into Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, which ravaged the Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, has heard that no fire risk assessment was conducted for the HK$336 million renovation project.

During an inquiry into the deadly Tai Po blaze in November, a fire contractor testified that the firm notified the government about deactivating Wang Fuk Court's fire safety systems, despite never conducting actual inspections at the estate.

Hong Kong's home affairs minister has promised a briefing for residents of the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court to address their concerns before an owners' meeting.

A public inquiry into the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po heard that renovation workers continued to smoke despite complaints from estate management to the project contractor.

A public inquiry into the deadly Tai Po fire at Wang Fuk Court has heard that a fire safety contractor was aware the alarm system had been disabled days before the tragedy, with no action taken to reactivate it. Residents are now allowed additional trips to retrieve belongings as an independent committee continues its analysis.

Residents of the fire-damaged Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong have been advised by authorities to prepare for difficult conditions when they return next month to retrieve their belongings.

A lawyer representing the government has told a public inquiry that accusations of a Housing Bureau inspection unit 'tipping off' a renovation consultant about safety checks at the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po are 'groundless' and amount to 'prejudgment'.

An independent hearing has commenced to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong.

More than 300 homeowners from the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have signed a petition to be sent to Hong Kong’s leader, demanding a face-to-face meeting with government-appointed Hop On Management Company over unresolved issues. The letter to the Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, obtained by the South China Morning Post on Sunday, bore 336 signatures – or 15 per cent of homeowners – who raised concerns in seven areas. These include the use of remaining renovation funds, the handling ...

An industrial workers’ union has urged the government to return the belongings stolen from Wang Fuk Court to the rightful owners after a suspected jewellery theft at the fire-hit estate.

The family of Ho Wai-ho, a 37-year-old Hong Kong firefighter who died battling the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po in November, will receive HK$6.15 million in government financial support.

After Hong Kong authorities signalled that new legislation could be passed to forcibly acquire title deeds from homeowners at the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court, Jason Kong started to feel the squeeze. “It feels like we’re being pressured,” Kong, who owns a flat on the estate, told HKFP on Tuesday, a day after deputy finance chief […]

Hong Kong authorities announced that residents of Wang Fuk Court, affected by a deadly fire, will be allowed to return to their flats to collect personal belongings by late April.

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan is expected to announce funding details for the proposed HK$6.8 billion buyouts of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court flats during his annual Budget speech.

Hong Kong authorities will spend about HK$6.8 billion (US$870 million) to buy back homes damaged in the deadly Tai Po fire from flat owners, offering HK$8,000 to HK$10,500 per square foot as part of a long-term resettlement plan involving HK$4 billion in public funds. Deputy financial secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun unveiled the plan on Saturday, ruling out on-site redevelopment of Wang Fuk Court, and saying authorities were inclined to demolish seven of the estate’s eight buildings and redeve...

In Hong Kong, nearly half of fire-fighting system deactivation notices for maintenance over the past two years exceeded the new two-month maximum duration, a rule introduced after the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire.

Residents of the fire-damaged Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong returned to their homes, with some discovering significant amounts of charred banknotes, including one resident finding HK$100,000.

Hong Kong authorities are investigating the discovery of rubbish and other items that did not belong to a resident's flat in the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court, found when he retrieved his belongings.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po continued to return to their fire-scorched housing estate over the weekend to collect personal belongings. Families planned to take final photos inside their flats, while others brought flowers to mourn neighbors lost in the blaze.

Emotional survivors have returned to the Wang Fuk Court block, which was the worst-hit area in a past incident, evoking a lifetime of memories.

An investigation into fire oversight, prompted by an incident in Tai Po, has revealed significant confusion regarding the roles of various government agencies. The probe highlighted a lack of clarity in responsibilities for fire safety and hazard complaints.

An independent inquiry into a fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po heard that the owners' corporation had tried to pressure the renovation contractor not to use flammable boards and substandard construction nets.

Two renovation subcontractors involved in a project at Wang Fuk Court, site of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades, conceded at a fire hearing that they did not regulate workers' smoking behavior before the inferno.

Approximately 380 households affected by a fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, have requested a second opportunity to retrieve their belongings. This request comes ahead of their initial scheduled visits to the fire-ravaged housing estate.

A Fire Services Department official told a public hearing investigating the Wang Fuk Court blaze in Hong Kong that seven-month water tank maintenance works, which disabled fire safety systems, were acceptable.

The administrator of the fire-damaged Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong has rejected a request from over 300 owners to convene a general meeting, citing a lack of compliant information.

The Hong Kong Observatory has issued a warning for intense thundery showers approaching the city under the influence of a trough of low pressure, coinciding with the Ching Ming Festival.

An inquiry into the fatal Wang Fuk Court blaze in Tai Po, Hong Kong, heard that an unlicensed electrician unknowingly deactivated all fire alarms months before the tragedy, which resulted in two worker deaths.

Survivors of Hong Kong's deadliest blaze in decades are mourning a woman who heroically alerted neighbors to the flames by knocking on doors but tragically died in the fire, which occurred after fire alarms failed at Wang Fuk Court.

Residents of the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court will be granted three-hour slots to retrieve belongings from their homes starting mid-April, as a lawyer's testimony at the ongoing fire inquiry draws attention.

An explainer details the unresolved issues surrounding insurance claims and payouts for flat owners, almost four months after a deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po killed 168 people and displaced thousands.

An independent committee investigating Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades has identified 14 members of Wang Fuk Court's former owners' corporation management group and seven residents as 'involved parties' who will give evidence at its hearings.

Some Hong Kong residents displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire remain in limbo as they complained of rude or unhelpful officers on a government outreach team who failed to answer their questions about…

Hong Kong police have implemented new security measures, including a cash limit for workers and metal detector searches, at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po following the arrest of three labourers suspected of stealing jewellery.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court are scheduled to provide evidence at the inquiry hearings investigating the deadly fire that devastated their housing estate.

Lawmakers and residents are proposing hi-tech aids to help elderly residents of fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, climb stairs to collect belongings from their high-rise homes.

The Hong Kong government will set aside HK$4 billion to buy out the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court flats in Tai Po, the city’s finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced the plan during the 2026 budget speech on Wednesday, days after the government unveiled its buyout plan. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong previously […]

A Hong Kong official has warned victims of the deadly Tai Po fire that they will receive a significantly lower payout if they reject the government's property buy-back plan, potentially forcing authorities to use legislation for acquisition.

The Hong Kong government is preparing a resettlement plan for owners who lost their homes in the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, including a buy-back offer.

Residents of Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court are grappling with the aftermath of a November fire, facing tough decisions on what to salvage from their damaged homes.

An inquiry into the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court heard that the Urban Renewal Authority, which oversaw renovation tenders, did not consider risks of illegal tendering practices.

Homeowners of the only undamaged block in the deadly Wang Fuk Court inferno who decline the government’s buy-back offer will face significant long-term challenges in managing and maintaining their properties, according to Hong Kong authorities.

An official told a public inquiry that Hong Kong's Buildings Department did not conduct flammability tests on scaffold nets at Wang Fuk Court before a deadly fire struck the housing estate last year. The inquiry is investigating the blaze.

Ian Chu, a resident of Wang Cheong House, returned to the scene of a deadly Hong Kong blaze to collect his belongings. He cherished the chance to capture one last image of the sea view from his home before it disappears.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, are returning to their fire-damaged homes to retrieve belongings and find closure after a deadly blaze, with one resident hoping to play a final piano tune.

The last batch of residents who briefly returned to their flats in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court under a special government arrangement said prayers and left flower bouquets as a final farewell to their…

A former member of the Wang Fuk Court owners' board testified at a hearing that enforcement agencies failed in their duties despite receiving complaints about a renovation project prior to a deadly fire.

About 1,900 families from Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will begin returning to their fire-damaged homes from April 20. This follows a deadly blaze nearly five months ago that engulfed seven of the estate’s eight buildings.

During an inquiry into a fire at Wang Fuk Court, a worker testified that no cigarettes were allowed and no one was seen smoking, with the management committee's role expected to be a key focus.

A resident of a fire-damaged flat in Tai Po's Wang Fuk Court has reported a suspected theft to police after discovering their apartment ransacked. The incident occurred after the resident was allowed back into the building following a recent fire.

An independent committee investigating the deadly Tai Po fire has held 10 hearing sessions, with testimonies from residents and employees of firms responsible for fire safety and building management.

A petition by homeowners of the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong, may contain forged signatures, according to the government. The Home Affairs Department stated that the petition lacked proper authentication mechanisms.

A government-appointed estate management firm will hold a briefing session for residents of Wang Fuk Court in early May, following a recent fire at the estate. The firm is set to take over the owners' board.

An employee of the property management firm at Hong Kong’s inferno-ravaged Wang Fuk Court housing estate has admitted the company failed in its contractual obligations to identify and follow up on fire hazards during a hearing for the Tai Po blaze.

An estate management firm, appointed as administrator for the fire-damaged Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong, will hold a briefing session for residents to discuss financial matters, including compensation and refunds.

Hong Kong officials have softened their stance, allowing displaced residents of the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court to make repeated trips back to their flats to collect belongings, following an online petition for greater flexibility.

Three survivors of the fatal Wang Fuk Court blaze in November have testified at a public inquiry, recounting their narrow escapes from the burning housing estate and expressing regret over not alerting neighbors amid silent fire alarms.

A public inquiry has heard that a massive blaze at a Tai Po housing estate in November, which caused fatalities, was "most likely" caused by smoking.

Over 400 homeowners from the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have petitioned Hong Kong leader John Lee to facilitate a meeting with the government-appointed administrator, Hop On Management.

Some residents of Wang Fuk Court, including former members of the defunct owners’ corporation, will participate as involved parties in the upcoming probe hearings investigating the deadly Tai Po fire.

Hong Kong police have arrested three construction workers on suspicion of stealing HK$90,000 (US$11,510) worth of gold jewellery from Tai Po's Wang Fuk Court.

The Hong Kong government has deployed a 100-strong team from various departments to explain buyout plans and long-term resettlement offers to residents affected by the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, affected by a November fire, may be able to return to their homes to retrieve belongings as early as late April, according to an official.

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department has launched an internal review to improve its strategies for tackling large-scale blazes following the deadly Wang Fuk Court inferno, with officers set to examine operational effectiveness and equipment use. Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin said on Tuesday that his deputy for operations, Derek Armstrong Chan, would lead a new steering committee within the department to evaluate strategies. “[The steering committee will] evaluate the operationa...

The buyback plan for Wang Fuk Court has left some residents disappointed, despite authorities describing the offer as generous.

Hong Kong authorities are preparing rehousing plans for residents displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire, while a student was expelled from CUHK for sedition related to a petition about the incident.