Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

As of noon today, donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had reached about $3.7 billion. Combined with the $300 million in startup capital from the Government, the fund now amounts to around $4 billion.

Accommodation support

As of this morning, under the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau 581 residents are staying in hotel rooms, while 559 residents are staying in youth hostels/camps. Another 3,513 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or the Hong Kong Housing Society, or at Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.

Currently, more than 1,000 units are still avilable to affected residents as longer-term accommodation. The transitional housing and Housing Society projects in various districts can altogether provide around 500 units at present. Moreover, Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun and Runway 1331 at Kai Tak can offer around 900 units.

Relief supplies

On the Government’s online platform for donated supplies, about 2,000 registrations have been received. Over 29,000 donated items have been distributed.

Handling of reported missing people

Six missing person cases that were being followed up by the Casualty Enquiry Unit have been concluded. Five of the individuals died in the fire, while the remaining individual was found to have passed away in 2023.

In view of the latest situation, the Police Force will adjust the service hours of its casualty enquiry hotline for the Tai Po fire (1878 999) to 7am to 11pm daily, from tomorrow.

Furthermore, the forensic pathologist recently established, through scientific examination, that one set of human remains belongs to two deceased individuals. As a result, the number of deceased has increased to 161.

School campus relocation

From the 2026-27 school year, Tai Po Baptist Public School will use the premises of the former Church of Christ in China Kei Ching Primary School at Fu Shin Estate in Tai Po, allowing pupils to resume normal activities at a single school site.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Education Bureau announced today that from the 2026-27 school year, Tai Po Baptist Public School will use the premises of the former Church of Christ in China Kei Ching Primary School at Fu Shin Estate in Tai Po.

The announcement follows discussions between the bureau and various government departments. It said the arrangement will allow all Tai Po Baptist Public School classes to resume normal activities at a single school site, enabling all students to continue their studies in a stable learning environment.

The former Church of Christ in China Kei Ching Primary School had been earmarked for conversion into an integrated social service complex.

The bureau has set up a dedicated working group to implement the new arrangement. It will also maintain close contact with Tai Po Baptist Public School and provide appropriate support.

Due to the recent fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the school’s existing campus will remain closed for a period of time. As a transitional measure, pupils from the school are attending face-to-face classes at the premises of Tai Po Government Primary School and NTWJWA Christian Remembrance of Grace Primary School, and will do so until the end of the current school year.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Chief Executive in Council has given approval for the Government to invite the MTR Corporation (MTRCL) to start detailed planning and design for the South Island Line (West) (SIL(W)) project. Advance construction works are expected to start in 2027.

The SIL(W) project will facilitate a “smart and green mass transit system”. It will consist of an elevated corridor and tunnel link spanning approximately 7.5km and eight stations, namely Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, Tin Wan, Wah Kwai, Wah Fu, Cyberport, Queen Mary Hospital and HKU, as well as a depot near the Cyberport Station.

Serving around 130,000 residents and connecting major facilities in the western and southern parts of Hong Kong Island, the SIL(W) project will form a transit loop with the South Island Line (East) and Island Line that will enhance network resilience.

The current journey time from Wah Fu Estate to Admiralty via Wong Chuk Hang is about 35 minutes and that from Wah Fu Estate to HKU is about 25 minutes. After the SIL(W) is commissioned journey times to these two destinations will be reduced to about 20 minutes and 10 minutes, respectively.

The link will pass through hilly terrain, with the difference in altitude between Wah Fu Estate and Aberdeen promenade being over 60m. The Transport & Logistics Bureau explained that if a heavy rail system were adopted, some sections would have to be built deep underground, which would be financially unviable.

Compared with earlier plans for an underground heavy rail scheme, the estimated construction cost of the “smart and green mass transit system” is about 40% lower and delivery has been advanced by about two years, the bureau highlighted.

The project is targeted for completion by 2034 and will support development in the area, including a planned new population intake die to the redevelopment of the Wah Fu Estate.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) today (December 19) gazetted a notice to invite tenders for the contract for Development off Tseung Kwan O Area 132 – Marine Viaduct and Associated Works (Contract No. ED/2025/03). The closing time for the tender is noon on February 27, 2026.
      
     The works mainly include the design and construction of the following works:
 

• construction of a marine viaduct of about 2.5 kilometres long connecting the land to be created off Tseung Kwan O Area 132 to Tseung Lam Highway;
• construction of an at-grade road of about 600 metres long in the land to be created off Tseung Kwan O Area 132 and footpaths of about 1.7km long;
• engineering infrastructure works including drainage, sewerage (including one sewage pumping station), waterworks, utilities, lighting, landscaping, irrigation, electrical and mechanical works, and slope works; and
• implementation of environmental monitoring and mitigation measures for the works mentioned above.

     The works are scheduled to commence in mid-2026 and will take about 57 months to complete.

     The CEDD has commissioned AECOM Asia Company Limited to supervise the works. Interested contractors may download the tender forms and other particulars from the e-Tendering System (e-TS). Tenderers must submit tenders in electronic format via the e-TS.
      
     Details of the tender notice are available on the CEDD website (www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/tender-notices/contracts/tender-notices/index.html). For enquiries, please call AECOM Asia Company Limited at 3922 9000 during office hours.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Drainage Services Department (DSD) today (December 19) announced that the prequalification application period for the contract “Design, Build and Operate San Tin Effluent Polishing Plant – Phase 1” (Contract No. DC/2025/05) has been extended to noon on January 16, 2026.
      
     The DSD invited interested tenderers for the contract to apply for prequalification on November 7, 2025. The prequalification application period was originally scheduled to expire at noon on January 2, 2026.
      
     The extension of the prequalification application period of the project was gazetted today. Details of the notice are available on the DSD website (www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/Tender_Notices/Current_Tenders/index.html).
      
     The DSD has commissioned Binnies – Arup Joint Venture as the project’s engineering consultant. For enquiries, please contact the person-in-charge of the consultant, Mr Colin Chan (tel: 2601 1000; fax: 2601 3988, email: ChanHK@binnies.com) during office hours.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 5th International Forum on “Problem-Solving City: Hong Kong as a Disputes Resolver” today (December 19):

Ms Maria Tam (Deputy Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Coalition), Professor Herman Hu (Chairman of Friday Culture Limited), Mr Nick Chan (Director of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Lands Department (LandsD) today (December 19) announced the proposal for land resumption at San Tin, Yuen Long, for the development of the San Tin Technopole (Phase 2) under the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124).
      
     The proposal involves the resumption of 1 797 private lots with an area of about 81 hectares. Details were published in the notice gazetted today. The notice is affixed in a conspicuous place on or near the land proposed to be resumed. A copy of the notice and resumption plan are also available on the LandsD website (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/resources/gov-notices/acq.html). Members of the public may also inspect the above-mentioned documents at the following government offices during office hours:
 

• Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, G/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong;
• Yuen Long Home Affairs Enquiry Centre, G/F, Yuen Long District Office Building, 269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, New Territories; and
• District Lands Office, Yuen Long, 9/F, Yuen Long Government Offices, 2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New Territories.

     The owner, occupier of the land or any person having any right in relation to the land to be resumed, who wishes to object to the proposed resumption, is required to submit a written objection to the Director of Lands. The written objection must sufficiently identify the aforementioned identity of the objector and describe how the objector will be affected by the proposal. Objectors are requested to provide contact details and deliver written objections to the Director of Lands on or before February 20, 2026, via one of the following means:
 

• by post or by hand to the San Tin Lok Ma Chau Team, Acquisition Section, Lands Department at 27/F, CDW Building, 382-392 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories;
• by fax to 3974 5510; or
• by email to stlmc2_general@landsd.gov.hk.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) today (December 19) reminded members of the public to guard against and avoid being misled by recent fake messages on social media claiming that Hong Kong residents may apply for valid permanent Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quotas for their vehicles by their Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as Home Return Permits). The incident will be referred to the Police for follow-up.

     The spokesman clarified that applicants for the Regular Quotas have to meet the application requirements stipulated by the Mainland authority and provide the Mainland authority with the specified documents (such as business registration documents of both Guangdong and Hong Kong) to apply for the Regular Quotas. Upon receipt of the Mainland Approval Notice from the Mainland authority, they may apply to the TD for Closed Road Permits for the designated land-based boundary control points.

     The spokesman stressed that the arrangements of the Regular Quotas must be jointly deliberated by the governments of the two places holistically. Citizens should refer to official announcements and verify messages to avoid deception or disruption to their travel plans.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region