Government Vows Legislative Action Next Year for Remaining Hung Fuk Estate Owners
HK01 · 2 SOURCES1 day ago6 MIN
Summary
The government announced on Saturday that it expects to introduce legislation next year to compulsorily acquire the remaining property rights at Tai Po's Hung Fuk Estate, after 13 households explicitly refused to participate in the voluntary buyback scheme. Financial Secretary Deputy Chief Secretary Wong Wai-luan (黃偉綸), who also serves as Acting Director of the Housing Bureau, revealed during a radio programme that approximately 94.8 percent of owners have signed sale agreements, with the voluntary acquisition process approaching completion. In response to severe criticism directed at the Independent Checking Unit (ICU) in the fire investigation report, the government confirmed the establishment of a new Public Housing Building Control Unit, which will fully replace the existing ICU.
Key Points
- 13 households at Hung Fuk Estate have explicitly stated they will not participate in the government's acquisition scheme
- Wong Wai-luan stated on RTHK's Saturday programme that about 94.8 percent of owners have signed purchase agreements
- Approximately 100 households, representing 5.2 percent of total units, have not signed sale agreements
- Of those 100 non-signing households, about 90 have already signed the acquisition recommendation letter
- Wong indicated that legislative action to compulsorily acquire remaining rights will not begin until later to avoid sending confusing signals while some residents are still selecting replacement flats
- The new Public Housing Building Control Unit will replace the existing ICU, with approximately 300 staff transitioning
- A senior official from the Buildings Department will be transferred to the new unit to strengthen enforcement of the Buildings Ordinance
- The new unit will establish dedicated teams for each monitoring project with dedicated liaison officers to handle resident complaints
Why It Matters
This development signals the government's determination to proceed with Hung Fuk Estate's redevelopment despite minority resistance, with legislative compulsory acquisition setting a precedent for future urban renewal projects. The restructuring of the ICU into the new Building Control Unit represents a fundamental overhaul of Hong Kong's public housing supervision framework, aiming to address systemic regulatory failures that contributed to the tragic fire that prompted this review.
This development signals the government's determination to proceed with Hung Fuk Estate's redevelopment despite minority resistance, with legislative compulsory acquisition setting a precedent for future urban renewal projects. The restructuring of the ICU into the new Building Control Unit represents a fundamental overhaul of Hong Kong's public housing supervision framework, aiming to address systemic regulatory failures that contributed to the tragic fire that prompted this review.