75.8% of flat owners at block unscathed by Tai Po fire agree to sell to authorities

More than 75 per cent of homeowners at the only block spared the worst of last November’s deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court have agreed to sell their flats to the Hong Kong government, with authorities to press ahead with acquisition procedures.

The Housing Bureau said on Thursday that 75.8 per cent of the flats at the estate’s Wang Chi House, or 188 households, had signed sales and purchase agreements as of Wednesday.

“[The] government confirmed that it will continue to take forward the acquisition work of Wang Chi House and sign the assignment with its owners progressively to complete the relevant procedures on title acquisition,” a spokesman said.

In the aftermath of the fire, which killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 others, authorities announced a plan to buy back flats in the eight-block subsidised housing estate in Tai Po.

Under the scheme, the government is acquiring flats at HK$8,000 (US$1,020) or HK$10,500 per square foot, depending on whether the owners have paid their land premiums.

Buy-back offers were initially sent to the owners of flats in the other seven blocks, before the scheme was extended to Wang Chi House.