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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government yesterday inaugurated an Inter-departmental Fire Investigation Task Force in response to the fire at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, the Fire Services Department (FSD) said.

Led by the FSD, the task force comprises representatives from the Police Force, the Buildings Department, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit, the Labour Department and the Government Laboratory, as well as fire engineering professionals.

The task force held its first meeting yesterday with two main objectives – to investigate the cause of the fire and how it spread, and to determine the factors that resulted in heavy casualties.

After the meeting, the members conducted a site inspection at the scene of the Wang Fuk Court fire.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government’s plan to provide $200,000 as a token of solidarity to the families of each deceased victim in the Wang Fuk Court fire will also apply to the families of foreign domestic helpers who passed away in the fire.

Speaking to media after appearing on a radio programme today, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak said social workers from the Social Welfare Department will contact the families of the deceased foreign helpers to facilitate distribution of the relief.

Addressing media alongside Miss Mak, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said the Labour Department is working with the consulates-general in Hong Kong of the Philippines or Indonesia, to look for foreign helpers who went missing in the blaze.

“That includes a visit on-site to Tai Po so that they could look for, and also help, the foreign domestic helpers on-site. We are receiving more information from the two consulates-general, including confirmed deaths of at least two Indonesian foreign domestic helpers, and also a number of them are still missing.

“I have to thank the foreign domestic helpers at Wang Fuk Court. We understand many of them took care of elderly people and children at the court. We know (that) many of them stayed inside together with their employers, taking care of them even at the height of the fire.

“You can rest assured, we will provide all the necessary assistance to all the foreign domestic workers and make sure their stay in Hong Kong is safe, and to cater to their needs.”

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Housing Authority announced today that, in order to alleviate mortgage repayment burdens on owners affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, it has immediately relaxed provisions regarding mortgage repayment periods and repayment amounts under the Deed of Guarantee.

The relaxations allow banks and financial institutions providing mortgage loans for subsidised sale flats to offer special mortgage arrangements to the holders of mortgages on subsidised sale flats with unpaid premiums at Wang Fuk Court. This includes deferred repayment of mortgage instalments or of the mortgage principal.

The authority has notified participating financial institutions of the arrangements, and will issue letters of confirmation to them.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today mourned victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, and expressed its profound condolences.

 

At 8am, Chief Executive John Lee – together with principal officials, Executive Council Non-official Members, and civil servants – observed a three-minute silence at the forecourt of the Central Government Offices East Wing, in solemn tribute to those who tragically lost their lives in the fire.

 

Also observing the silence were Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council Xu Qifang, who came to Hong Kong to assist in disaster relief works; Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, Deputy Director of the HKMAO of the State Council and Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR Zhou Ji; and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the HKMAO of the State Council Nong Rong.

 

Subsequently, Mr Lee, Mr Xu, Mr Zhou, Mr Nong and principal officials signed a book of condolence at the CGO in tribute to the victims.

 

From today until December 1, the Home Affairs Department will station condolence points across the city’s 18 districts for the public to sign condolence books. The books will be available for signing from 9am to 9pm.

 

During the mourning period, national flags and regional flags displayed at all government buildings, including offices of the Hong Kong SAR Government outside Hong Kong, will be flown at half-mast. All celebration activities organised by the Government will be cancelled or postponed as appropriate. Government officials will also reduce their attendance at non-essential public activities.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government today said that the firefighting and rescue operations at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have been completed, and various bureaus and departments are focusing on stepping up follow‑up support and recovery work.

Victim identification
To expedite the handling of enquiries related to missing people, Police activated the Major Incident Investigation & Disaster Support System to help identify the casualties.

The Disaster Victim Identification Unit will also be deployed to systematically confirm the identities of the victims, and provide evidence for subsequent investigations and follow‑up work. An identification centre has also been set up to assist families in conducting preliminary identification of the deceased through photographs. Following initial identification, Police will arrange formal identification procedures.

In accordance with the Coroners Ordinance, the bodies of the victims in the fire will be transferred to the public mortuary. The Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Service is collecting evidence for the Police’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit and fully assisting in the identification of the deceased.

Considering that bereaved families may have difficulty providing identification documents and medical records of the deceased, forensic pathologists will exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis and provide appropriate support. They will also endeavour to assist bereaved families in applying for a waiver of post-mortem procedures according to their wishes.

Providing relief
To provide immediate relief for affected residents, the Government began offering an emergency cash subsidy of $10,000 per affected household last night. Applications were processed for 78 households last night, with $780,000 disbursed.

As at 4pm today, the Tai Po District Office is processing applications from over 1,200 households, and the emergency cash subsidies will be disbursed over today and tomorrow.

Additionally, the Government will provide a token of solidarity of $200,000 to the family members of each deceased victim, and starting next week, a living allowance of $50,000 will be provided to each affected household.

Funeral arrangements
The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will arrange dedicated staff to assist each family of the deceased in handling funeral arrangements, including body claims, cremation services and applications for niche allocations.

The FEHD will also maintain close co-ordination with social workers under the Social Welfare Department’s (SWD) “one social worker per household” initiative.

The FEHD will provide extra cremation sessions and make available niches at its public columbaria, enabling families to arrange cremations and post-funeral matters promptly at their preferred time and location.

The Government will waive fees for cremation services and niches at public columbaria, bear funeral expenditures, and provide $50,000 to the families of each deceased individual.

HKID replacement
Residents affected by the fire may visit the Immigration Headquarters during office hours without an appointment for replacements of Hong Kong identity cards or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region travel documents, any Registration of Persons Office for replacements of identity cards, and any Immigration Branch Office for replacements of travel documents.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department has deployed officers to various temporary shelters to assist the affected residents of Wang Fuk Court with pre-registration and will arrange dedicated vehicles to take them to the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O later to complete the procedures for replacements of personal documents, including Hong Kong identity cards, Hong Kong SAR travel documents and the Hong Kong Birth Certificate. Relevant fees will be waived.

A special service session will be arranged at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O outside office hours tomorrow to process relevant applications.

For the Hong Kong & Macao Residents Entry & Exit Permit, the Immigration Department has liaised with the China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong to provide a special service period to assist residents in need to apply for Home Return Permits and other travel documents issued by Mainland authorities at the adjacent China Travel Service Document Services HK Limited Tseung Kwan O Centre, after completing their relevant applications at the Immigration Headquarters.

Emergency accommodation
The Government is striving to provide emergency accommodation support for residents affected by the fire. As of this morning, around 205 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels/camps or hotel rooms.

Another 601 residents have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau.

Furthermore, nine shelters remain open, with around 720 residents staying overnight yesterday. An interdepartmental support station is set up at each shelter, and District Services & Community Care Teams across all 18 districts will take turns to be on duty to assist residents.

Transport services
To accommodate the needs of residents admitted into Lok Sin Village and Good House, two transitional housing projects in Tai Po, the Transport Department (TD) has co-ordinated with KMB to enhance the service of route Nos. 72C, 73P, 74E, 75K, 75P and 275R travelling along Ting Kok Road, as well as relevant operators to strengthen the service of the New Territories Green Minibus (GMB) route Nos. 20B, 20C, 20E, 20G, 20R and 20T.

Starting from November 29, the GMB operator concerned will provide an additional temporary service connecting Good House and MTR Tai Po Market Station.

With support from the MTR Corporation (MTRC), the Government will provide the affected residents with Octopus cards with $2,000 of stored credit through the SWD, with each resident receiving one card to facilitate their daily travel.

The MTRC has also set up a support desk at MTR Tai Po Market Station to facilitate express registration for residents whose JoyYou Card, Octopus cards for people with disabilities, and Octopus cards for students that have been lost or damaged.

Financial support
Separately, the Financial Secretary convened a co-ordination meeting this afternoon with financial regulators to enhance support for residents affected by the fire.

The Insurance Authority has set up a dedicated task force to co-ordinate the insurance sector’s responses on the handling of public enquiries and claims.

Insurers are also offering various forms of assistance, including prioritising claims processing, expediting payouts, offering premium holidays or extended payment deadlines, and providing interest relief on policy loans.

Welfare assistance
On other emergency support, the SWD has registered more than 900 households for the provision of “one social worker per household” services in order to render necessary assistance according to their welfare needs.

The SWD will continue to reach out to other unregistered households or they may leave their contact information by calling 182 183; social workers will assist to follow up.

Moreover, the SWD has arranged respite services for dozens of elderly residents and people with disabilities. Social welfare organisations were also engaged to provide burial services for residents in need.

Staff mobilisation
Meanwhile, the Civil Service Bureau today mobilised more than 200 additional staff to form Quick Response Units to provide support at temporary shelters and other locations in Tai Po, including distributing supplies to affected residents. They include civil servants from the Civil Engineering & Development Department and the Immigration Department, as well as staff from the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

School support
To support schools and students to cope with the incident, the Education Bureau (EDB) will offer $100,000 to each primary and secondary school and $50,000 to each kindergarten in Tai Po District under the Special Incident Assistance Grant. If any school premises are damaged, the EDB will arrange emergency repair works.

Additionally, the EDB will hold five online seminars on psychological support this coming weekend to assist school personnel and parents in taking care of students or children with traumatic experiences.

Fundraising effort
Members of the public can visit 122 post offices across the city, including three mobile post offices, to donate to the government-established Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. A receipt will be issued upon completion as confirmation.

To further facilitate the public, the Faster Payment System (FPS) channel for the relief fund has been activated (FPS Identifier: 124037276).

The Government is working with the information technology sector to expedite the development of an online platform for registering donated supplies, to allow organisations and members of the public to register the items they can donate, enabling the Government to better consolidate the information and distribute the supplies to residents in need when necessary.

People may provide their contact information and details of items they can donate via WhatsApp at 9213 2388 for timely follow-up by the Government.

Dedicated website
The Government has established a dedicated website Support Services for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, providing a one-stop platform for relevant information and updates on accommodation support, relief supplies, government dedicated fund, financial support, as well as medical and counselling services, to facilitate public access.

Construction probe
The three personnel of the construction company arrested yesterday are still being detained for enquiries. The Fire Services Department has established an interdepartmental investigation team with participating departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Buildings Department, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, the Housing Department, the Labour Department and the Government Laboratory. The investigation will commence shortly.

On the protective nets used at Wang Fuk Court, the contractor submitted a test report to the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) in October 2024. Upon review, the ICU did not identify any non-compliance issues against the fire-retardant requirements as stipulated in the Buildings Ordinance and relevant practice notes/circular letters.

Officers of the ICU visited Wang Fuk Court in November 2024 to oversee how the registered inspectors and contractor conducted on-site sampling and burned the material of the protective nets, but no combustible feature was detected.

In light of the fire incident and to conduct sampling and testing at the work sites, the ICU conducted preliminary on-site sampling of the protective nets yesterday at five Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) courts that have been issued notices under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and are currently undergoing major maintenance works. Apart from Wang Chi House of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, others include Sui Wo Court in Sha Tin, Ching Lai Court in Sham Shui Po, Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, and On Kay Court in Kwun Tong.

The preliminary results of the tests conducted by the Government Laboratory have not identified any non-compliance issues against the fire-retardant requirements of protective nets as stipulated in the Buildings Ordinance and relevant practice notes/circular letters.

The ICU has also conducted on-site sampling of the styrofoam materials used for protecting the windows at Wang Chi House of Wang Fuk Court, which was not affected by the fire incident. Tests by the Government Laboratory confirmed that the styrofoam material is flammable.

Except for Wang Fuk Court, the ICU has not identified any cases of using styrofoam boards as the protective materials for the external walls or windows at the other four HOS courts.

The ICU will continue to conduct on-site sampling at the seven buildings affected by the fire incident in Wang Fuk Court. Immediate referral will be made to the law enforcement agencies for prosecutions if any non-compliance issues are found.

The Buildings Department (BD) commenced inspections yesterday in batches of existing buildings that are undergoing major external wall repairs and with scaffold nets installed for checking of records or relevant test documents regarding the fire-retardant properties of materials such as scaffold nets, and collecting samples for testing.

As of 5pm today, the BD inspected 127 buildings and collected samples, which are sent in batches to the Government Laboratory, local private laboratories and Mainland laboratories for testing. Results are expected within one to three days.

The BD aims to complete inspections and sampling in batches within next week at the latest.

In the inspections conducted so far, the BD has discovered two buildings with foam boards covering windows and has requested their immediate removal. It will notify residents by letter and seek legal advice for considering legal penalties.

The BD has issued circular letters to all registered building professionals and registered contractors, requiring them to review records or test documents for materials such as scaffold nets for ongoing works, regardless of whether the projects are new building constructions or maintenance of existing buildings.

The review includes checking whether the materials are in good condition and meeting fire-retardant performance standards and requirements. Reports must be submitted to the BD within seven days and it will immediately conduct audit checks for sampling and testing.

The Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) has also requested the contractors of 24 public works building projects to review the records or test documents of materials, such as scaffold protective nets. A report must be submitted to the ArchSD within seven days.

Separately, in response to the public concern over the Emergency Relief Chit, the Social Welfare Department clarified that the chits are only a record for residents who received Emergency Relief Services at temporary shelters, noting that it is irrelevant to the “one social worker per household” service. 

The department reiterated that residents with the “one social worker per household” service arrangement do not need any registration card as documentary proof.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

Two incoming passengers were respectively sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with a fine of $1,500, and eight weeks’ imprisonment with a fine of $2,000 by the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts today (November 28) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, and importing goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) applies, in contravention of the DCO.
 
Customs officers intercepted a 51-year-old incoming male passenger on October 6 at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point. Customs officers seized 2 399 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $10,000 and a duty potential of about $8,000, found on him. The male passenger was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500.
 
In addition, Customs officers intercepted a 32-year-old incoming female passenger and her accompanying child on November 25 at the same control point. Officers discovered that the woman had concealed 1 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $5,700 and a duty potential of about $4,600, in the backpack carried by the child. The female passenger was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment and fined $2,000.
 
Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
 
Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
 
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee (PCSC) held its 21st meeting today (November 28) to review the latest situation of chikungunya fever (CF) and coping measures. The PCSC also examined measures of departments on rodent prevention and discussed the use of Rodent Absence Rate (RAR) to help departments implement targeted measures to tackle rodent black spots.

Prevention and control of CF
 
Representative from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) presented the latest local, Guangdong Province and global surveillance data and risk assessment. The representative of the CHP also reported the results of epidemiological investigation into several cases recently recorded among residents of Tsing Yi, which revealed that the patients’ activities during the incubation and infectious periods overlapped in Tsing Yi North, primarily around Tsing Yi town centre and the Tsing Yi Nature Trails. As some patients of the confirmed cases have reportedly been bitten by mosquitoes while hiking along the Tsing Yi Nature Trails, the CHP considers the trails to be an area with higher risk. As a precautionary measure, the CHP urged individuals who have hiked in the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area since November 1 to seek medical attention as soon as possible if they develop relevant symptoms and to call the CHP’s enquiry hotline (2125 2373). The CHP will assess symptomatic individuals and arrange blood tests if necessary.
 
In response to the cases recorded in Tsing Yi, follow-up actions have been taken by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), which include:
 

1. Upon receiving the CHP’s notification, surveys of mosquito infestation will be initiated within 24 hours in areas within a 250-metre radius of the residence and workplace of the patient, as well as places the patient had visited during the incubation and infectious period. Relevant Government departments will be notified with the results for follow-up actions;
2. Implementing larvicidal control measures in the target area and conducting fogging operations in nearby adult mosquito habitats to eliminate adult mosquitoes;
3. Providing professional advice and technical support to relevant departments and stakeholders to assist in swiftly formulating and implementing effective mosquito control measures;
4. Inspecting construction sites and private residences, and taking enforcement actions against violations related to mosquito breeding;
5. Visiting schools and childcare facilities in the target area to provide information and assistance regarding mosquito prevention; and
6. Enhancing public education efforts through organising health talks, setting up mobile education stations, and distributing publicity leaflets.

     Specifically targeting confirmed cases who visited the Tsing Yi Nature Trails or the surrounding area, the FEHD has been conducting intensive fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes along the hiking trails to eliminate adult mosquitoes since  November 13. At suitable locations, large ultra-low volume foggers have been deployed, and robot dogs are being trialed to enhance operational effectiveness. The FEHD has also set up new mosquito trapping devices, cleared discarded containers and garbage that could bring stagnant water, and applied larvicide oil or larvicides in areas with stagnant water that cannot be removed immediately. Pamphlets have been also distributed to hikers in the area, urging citizens to be vigilant against mosquito infestations.
 
The FEHD has earlier requested the Kwai Tsing District Office, the District Lands Office of Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing, and the Drainage Services Department to strengthen efforts in eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites along the Tsing Yi Nature Trail.
 
The District Environmental Hygiene Superintendent (Kwai Tsing) of the FEHD also held a meeting of the inter-departmental task forces on anti-mosquito work across districts today, to discuss the latest developments regarding the situation and plan accordingly to coordinate relevant departments and stakeholders in strengthening mosquito prevention and control measures in areas under their purview.
 
In addition, in terms of the overall risk assessment, although the northern hemisphere is about to enter winter, some subtropical regions are still experiencing higher-than-normal temperatures due to climate change, creating suitable conditions for mosquito breeding. In addition, the outbreaks of CF in tropical regions are ongoing. Therefore, the risk of imported cases persists.
 
Representatives from the FEHD reported to the PCSC the latest situation of mosquito proliferation. The gravidtrap indices for Aedes albopictus for October 2025 was 2.2 per cent, lower than the 2.5 per cent recorded in September. In October, all 64 survey areas recorded an area gravidtrap index lower than the alert level of 20 per cent. In addition, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in October was 1.2, which represented that an average of 1.2 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas.
 
Aedes albopictus eggs are resilient in cold and dry conditions, and upon exposure to suitable temperature and water, the eggs could still hatch into adult mosquitoes. To prevent the local transmission of CF, all government departments and the community must continue to maintain effective mosquito prevention and control measures in place during the winter season, ensuring the removal of potential breeding grounds and thorough clearance of mosquito eggs. In view of the situation at the Tsing Yi Nature Trail, relevant departments will also remind their staff to pay special attention to mosquito control efforts along hiking trails and similar areas.

Rodent control

The FEHD presented the results of its rodent activity surveys conducted in various districts during the first half of 2025. The findings indicated that the overall RAR was 96 per cent. Compared to the RAR recorded in the second half of 2024, 16 out of the 19 surveyed districts (approximately 84 per cent) showed an increase in their RAR, reflecting an improvement in rodent conditions.
 
In the meeting, the FEHD introduced how to effectively utilize the RAR data to formulate more targeted measures, further enhancing the effectiveness of rodent control efforts. In addition, the FEHD continues to carry out strategic rodent control actions in 93 major rodent black spots, reallocating resources to comprehensively and continuously mitigate the rodent infestation in the relevant black spots. It is estimated that the target of reducing the number of hotspots by 60 per cent can be achieved by the end of 2025.
 
In addition, the Housing Department (HD) and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) also reported in the meeting rodent prevention and control measures implemented in venues and areas under their purview.
 
In the meeting, the LCSD reported the latest rodent situation in San Po Kong Sitting-out Area. With the support from the FEHD, the LCSD will continue to implement rodent prevention and control measures. To date, a total of 23 rodents have been caught or found dead at the site. In addition, the LCSD is preparing enforcement actions against feeding of rodents and related acts that soil public areas in collaboration with other departments. Furthermore, the FEHD will shortly install thermal imaging cameras at the location to monitor rodent activity and assess the effectiveness of control measures. The site will also be included in the Rodent Activity Survey for 2026, in accordance with established criteria and priorities.
 
The effectiveness of prevention and control of rodents relies on the co-operation of stakeholders from various sectors. The Environment and Ecology Bureau will continue to co-ordinate the Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action to promote cross-sector, multidisciplinary and community involvement to comprehensively control rodent together. The FEHD launched the first phase of the Anti-rodent Charter (the Charter) targeting residential premises in December 31, 2024, to promote residents’ awareness of environmental hygiene and encourage them to cultivate good habits for a rodent-free environment. As of November 25, 2025, 684 residential premises have signed the Charter, covering around 650 000 households. Among the residential premises, two are participants of the Pilot Scheme on Joint Property Management, covering more than 40 households. Other participants of the Pilot Scheme on Joint Property Management will be invited to sign the Charter when they are ready.
 
The Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology and the Chairperson of the PCSC, Miss Diane Wong, urged at the meeting all departments to closely monitor situation of mosquito proliferation in areas identified as high risk, and strengthen mosquito elimination work in areas under their purviews. Regarding rodent infestation, Miss Wong emphasised interdepartmental collaboration and public participation are important to combating rodent infestation. Various departments should proactively consolidate the rodent control work with various sectors and encourage the public to collaborate in rodent prevention and control actions.
 
The meeting today was chaired by Miss Diane Wong. Government bureaux, departments and organisations attending the meeting were the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Architectural Services Department; the Civil Engineering and Development Department; the Development Bureau; the Department of Health; the Drainage Services Department; the Education Bureau; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department; the Environmental Protection Department; the FEHD; the Government Property Agency; the Hospital Authority; the Home Affairs Department; the HD; the Highways Department; the Lands Department; the LCSD; the Marine Department; and the Water Supplies Department.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

A Government spokesperson today (November 28) said that the fire ‘fighting and rescue operations at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have been completed, and various bureaux and departments are focusing on stepping up follow‘ up support and recovery work. The Government yesterday (November 27) established a Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, a Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund‑Raising, and a Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements, led respectively by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, and the Deputy Financial Secretary, to actively take forward the relevant work.

To expedite the handling of enquiries related to missing persons, the Police have activated the Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System (MIIDSS – supercomputer) to help identify the casualties. They will also deploy the Disaster Victim Identification Unit to systematically confirm the identities of the victims and provide evidence for subsequent investigations and follow‑up work. An identification centre has also been set up to assist families in conducting preliminary identification of the deceased through photographs. Following initial identification, the Police will arrange formal identification procedures.

In accordance with the Coroners Ordinance (Cap. 504), the bodies of the victims in the fire will be transferred to the public mortuary. The Department of Health’s Forensic Pathology Service is collecting evidence for the Police’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit and fully assisting in the identification of the deceased. Considering that bereaved families may have difficulty providing identification documents and medical records of the deceased, forensic pathologists will exercise discretion on a case-by-case basis and provide appropriate support. They will also endeavour to assist bereaved families in applying for a waiver of post-mortem procedures according to their wishes.

To provide immediate relief for affected residents, the Government began offering an emergency cash subsidy of HK$10,000 per affected household last night. Applications were processed for 78 households last night, with HK$780,000 disbursed. As at 4pm today, the Tai Po District Office is processing applications from over 1 200 households, and the emergency cash subsidies will be disbursed over today and tomorrow. In addition, the Government will provide a token of solidarity of HK$200,000 to the family members of each deceased victim, and starting next week, a living allowance of HK$50,000 will be provided to each affected household.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will arrange dedicated staff to assist each family of the deceased in handling funeral arrangements, including body claims, cremation services, and applications for niche allocations. The FEHD will also maintain close co-ordination with social workers under the Social Welfare Department (SWD)’s “one social worker per household” initiative. The FEHD will provide extra cremation sessions and make available niches at public columbaria under the Department, enabling families to arrange cremations and post-funeral matters promptly at their preferred time and location. The Government will waive fees for cremation services and niches at public columbaria, bear funeral expenditures, and provide $50,000 to the families of each deceased individual.

On replacements of identity documents, residents affected by the fire may visit the Immigration Headquarters during office hours without an appointment for replacements of Hong Kong identity cards or HKSAR travel documents, any Registration of Persons Office for replacements of identity cards, and any Immigration Branch Office for replacements of travel documents. Meanwhile, the Immigration Department has deployed officers to various temporary shelters to assist the affected residents of Wang Fuk Court with pre-registration and will arrange dedicated vehicles to take them to the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O later to complete the procedures for replacements of personal documents, including Hong Kong identity cards and HKSAR travel documents (such as the HKSAR passport, the Document of Identity for Visa Purposes, and the Re-entry Permit) and the Hong Kong Birth Certificate. Relevant fees will be waived. A special service session will be arranged at the Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O outside office hours tomorrow (November 29, Saturday) to process relevant applications.

For the Hong Kong and Macao Residents Entry and Exit Permit (Home Return Permit), the Immigration Department has liaised with the China Travel Service (Holdings) Hong Kong Limited to provide a special service period to assist residents in need to apply for Home Return Permits and other travel documents issued by Mainland authorities at the adjacent China Travel Service Document Services HK Limited Tseung Kwan O Centre, after completing their relevant applications at the Immigration Headquarters.

In addition, the Government is striving to provide emergency accommodation support for residents affected by the fire. As of this morning, around 205 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels/camps or hotel rooms. Another 601 residents have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau. Furthermore, nine shelters remain open, with around 720 residents staying overnight yesterday. An interdepartmental support station is set up at each shelter, and Care Teams across all 18 districts will take turns to be on duty to assist residents.

To accommodate the needs of residents admitted into Lok Sin Village and Good House, two transitional housing projects in Tai Po, the Transport Department (TD) has co-ordinated with KMB to enhance the service of route Nos. 72C, 73P, 74E, 75K, 75P and 275R travelling Ting Kok Road, as well as relevant operators to strengthen the service of the New Territories Green Minibus (GMB) route Nos. 20B, 20C, 20E, 20G, 20R and 20T. Starting from November 29, the GMB operator concerned will provide additional temporary service connecting Good House and MTR Tai Po Market Station.

Regarding Trackside Villas, another transitional housing project in Tai Po, the TD is working with the relevant operator and stakeholder to follow up and further enhance services to Tai Po Market Station. The TD will continue to maintain close liaison with operating organisations of transitional housing projects concerned to cater for residents’ needs.

With the support from the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), the Government will provide the affected residents with Octopus cards with $2,000 of stored credit through the SWD, with each resident receiving one card to facilitate their daily travel. The MTRCL has also set up a support desk at the MTR Tai Po Market Station to facilitate express registration for residents whose JoyYou Card, Octopus cards for persons with disabilities, and Octopus cards for students that have been lost or damaged.

Separately, the Financial Secretary convened a co-ordination meeting this afternoon with financial regulators to enhance support for residents affected by the fire . The Insurance Authority has set up a dedicated task force to co-ordinate the insurance sector’s responses on the handling of public enquiries and claims. Insurers are also offering various forms of assistance, including prioritising claims processing, expediting payouts, offering premium holidays or extended payment deadlines, and providing interest relief on policy loans.

On other emergency support, the SWD has registered more than 900 households for the provision of “one social worker per household” services in order to render necessary assistance according to their welfare needs. The SWD will continue to reach out to other unregistered households, or they may leave their contact information by calling 182 183; social workers will assist to follow up. In addition, the SWD has arranged respite services for dozens of elderly residents and persons with disabilities. Social welfare organisations were also engaged to provide burial services for residents in need.

Meanwhile, the Civil Service Bureau today mobilised more than 200 additional staff to form Quick Response Units to provide support at temporary shelters and other locations in Tai Po, including distributing supplies to affected residents. They include civil servants from the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Immigration Department, as well as staff from the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

To support schools and students to cope with the incident, the Education Bureau (EDB) will offer $100,000 to each primary and secondary school (including special schools) and $50,000 to each kindergarten in Tai Po District under the Special Incident Assistance Grant. If any school premises are damaged, the EDB will arrange emergency repair works. In addition, the EDB will hold five online seminars on psychological support this coming weekend to assist school personnel and parents in taking care of students or children with traumatic experiences.

Regarding fundraising and relief supplies, members of the public can visit 122 post offices across the territory (including three mobile post offices) to donate to the government-established Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. A receipt will be issued upon completion as confirmation. To further facilitate the public, the Faster Payment System (FPS) channel for the relief fund has been activated (FPS Identifier: 124037276). In addition, the Government is working with the information technology sector to expedite the development of an online platform for registering donated supplies, to allow organisations and members of the public to register the items they can donate, enabling the Government to better consolidate the information and distribute the supplies to residents in need when necessary. Members of the public may provide their contact information and details of items they can donate via WhatsApp at 9213 2388 for timely follow-up by the Government.

The Government has established a dedicated website Support Services for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po (www.taipofire.gov.hk), providing a one-stop platform for relevant information and updates on accommodation support, relief supplies, government dedicated fund, financial support, as well as medical and counselling services, to facilitate public access.

Regarding the investigations and regulation, the three personnel of the construction company arrested yesterday are still being detained for enquiries. The Fire Services Department has established an interdepartmental investigation team with participating departments including the Hong Kong Police Force, the Buildings Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Housing Department, the Labour Department, and the Government Laboratory. The investigation will commence shortly.

On the protective nets used at Wang Fuk Court, the contractor submitted a test report to the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau (ICU) in October 2024. Upon review, the ICU did not identify any non-compliance issues against the fire-retardant requirements as stipulated in the Buildings Ordinance and relevant practice notes/circular letters. In addition, officers of the ICU visited Wang Fuk Court in November 2024 to oversee how the registered inspectors and contractor conducted on-site sampling and burned the material of the protective nets, but no combustible feature was detected. In light of the fire incident and to conduct sampling and testing at the work sites, the ICU conducted preliminary on-site sampling of the protective nets yesterday at five Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) courts that have been issued notices under the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme and are currently undergoing major maintenance works (apart from Wang Chi House of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, others include Sui Wo Court in Sha Tin, Ching Lai Court in Sham Shui Po, Yee Kok Court in Sham Shui Po, and On Kay Court in Kwun Tong). The preliminary results of the tests conducted by the Government Laboratory have not identified any non-compliance issues against the fire-retardant requirements of protective nets as stipulated in the Buildings Ordinance and relevant practice notes/circular letters.

The ICU has also conducted on-site sampling of the styrofoam materials used for protecting the windows at Wang Chi House of Wang Fuk Court, which was not affected by the fire incident. Tests by the Government Laboratory confirmed that the styrofoam material is flammable. Except for Wang Fuk Court, the ICU has not identified any cases of using styrofoam boards as the protective materials for the external walls or windows at the other four HOS courts. The ICU will continue to conduct on-site sampling at the seven buildings affected by the fire incident in Wang Fuk Court. Immediate referral will be made to the law enforcement agencies for prosecutions if any non-compliance issues are found.

The Buildings Department (BD) commenced inspections yesterday in batches of existing buildings that are undergoing major external wall repairs and with scaffold nets installed for checking of records or relevant test documents regarding the fire-retardant properties of materials such as scaffold nets; and collecting samples for testing. As of 5pm today, the BD inspected 127 buildings and collected samples, which are sent in batches to the Government Laboratory, local private laboratories, and Mainland laboratories for testing. Results are expected within one to three days. The BD aims to complete inspections and sampling in batches within next week at the latest. In the inspections conducted so far, the BD has discovered two buildings with foam boards covering windows and has requested their immediate removal. The BD will notify residents by letter and seek legal advice for considering legal penalties.

The BD has issued circular letters to all registered building professionals and registered contractors, requiring them to review records or test documents for materials such as scaffold nets for ongoing works, regardless of whether the projects are new building constructions or maintenance of existing buildings. The review includes checking whether the materials are in good condition and meeting fire-retardant performance standards and requirements. Reports must be submitted to the BD within seven days, and the BD will immediately conduct audit checks for sampling and testing. The Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) has also requested the contractors of 24 public works building projects to review the records or test documents of materials, such as scaffold protective nets. A report must be submitted to the ArchSD within seven days.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     To assist affected residents of the No. 5 alarm fire in Tai Po in overcoming difficulties, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB) discussed the follow-up measures with 28 retail banks (including digital banks).

     Due to the special circumstances of this fire incident, the banking industry introduces six emergency support measures with immediate effect:
 

1. Establish designated committees, set up dedicated hotlines and enhance information dissemination – All retail banks have today established their respective designated committees led by senior management to coordinate internal resources and guide frontline staff to handle the cases of affected residents with flexibility. Banks have also set up respective 24-hour hotlines dedicated to answering enquiries (see Annex), and will provide details and updates of their support measures via branches, websites and social media;
2. Provide a six-month pre-approved repayment grace period to alleviate the immediate financial pressure on affected residents – Banks will offer a six-month pre-approved repayment grace period (including principal and interest) for mortgages, personal loans, and credit card loans etc., of affected residents, as well as waivers of related penalties and service charges;
3. Extend branch service hours and increase manpower in Tai Po to meet the local needs – All retail banks will extend the opening hours of their branches in Tai Po, providing services from 9am to 5pm on November 29 (Saturday), and from 9am to 1pm on November 30 (Sunday). Service schedules of the following week will be adjusted as necessary based on actual circumstances. Additional staff will also be deployed to relevant branches to understand affected residents’ special banking needs;
4. Prioritise handling bank account matters and document replacements for affected residents – Banks will assist affected residents or their family members by expediting the processing of related bank accounts, and prioritise helping affected residents to replace banking documents such as ATM cards, credit cards, and debit cards, with flexible collection or direct delivery arrangements;
5. Assist affected residents to access liquid funds with flexibility – Banks will provide special assistance to affected residents who cannot present ID or banking documents, enabling them to access liquid funds and continue using other banking services through alternative identification methods.
6. Assist in follow-up of insurance claims — All retail banks will proactively contact affected residents who have purchased insurance policies through respective banks to assist them in submitting claims applications.

 
     The HKMA and HKAB once again express profound grief for the deceased in the No. 5 alarm fire in Tai Po and extend the deepest condolences to the affected families. Affected residents can contact banks anytime if they have enquiries or special banking service needs. The banking industry will continue to provide assistance in a timely manner with empathy and flexibility.

     At the same time, the HKMA and HKAB would like to take this opportunity to remind the public to stay vigilant at all times to prevent fraudsters from taking advantage of the situation. Whenever receiving calls that claim to be from banks, the public should authenticate the identity of the caller and never disclose personal and bank account information, passwords, or other sensitive information to suspicious individuals.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region