Majority of Wang Fuk Court Homeowners Accept Government Buyback Offer

Speaking on Monday, Lee reported that the buyback process remains smooth as residents evaluate options following a deadly blaze last year.

Wang Fuk Court Buyback Progress Reaches Majority Threshold

Chief Executive John Lee announced on Monday that 53 percent of homeowners at Wang Fuk Court have formally signed sale and purchase agreements with the government. The buyback initiative follows a devastating fire that swept through the Tai Po housing estate in November last year, claiming 168 lives and displacing thousands of residents in one of the worst urban fires in the territory’s history.

According to official figures, 90.8 percent of property owners have signed a letter of acceptance, which serves as the initial step allowing them to trade their properties for cash or alternative housing units. Wang Fuk Court, operating as a government-subsidised Home Ownership Scheme estate, originally contained 1,984 flats.

With Lee’s update indicating that roughly 200 homeowners have yet to accept the terms, time is running out. The government acquisition offer is scheduled to expire at the end of August. Lee urged remaining residents to make timely decisions, noting that the primary goal of the buyout is to help families restore normalcy as quickly as possible.

Valuation Terms and Compulsory Acquisition Concerns

The government first rolled out the acquisition scheme in February. Under the current framework, buyback valuations are set between HK$8,000 and HK$10,500 per square foot. The exact rate depends on whether individual homeowners have paid their land premiums.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong previously stated that authorities might pursue legislation to forcibly acquire property titles from residents who refuse to sell.

Authorities confirmed they will not rebuild the residential estate on its original footprint, leaving residents with few viable alternatives to the government buyout.

Judicial Integrity Measures After High Court Plagiarism Cases

In a separate announcement on Monday, Chief Executive Lee addressed personnel changes within the judiciary. Lee stated that he respects the decision made by Chief Justice Andrew Cheung to request High Court Judge Wilson Chan to take an early retirement.

According to investigations by local media outlet The Witness, Chan was found to have plagiarized content in his judgments on at least five occasions over the past three years. Across a 10-year tenure as a Court of First Instance judge, 11 cases presided over by Chan involved appeals or formal complaints regarding judicial copying. Courts ordered retrials in four of those instances.

The Judiciary confirmed that Chief Justice Cheung requested Chan’s early departure, which takes effect on Friday. Lee emphasized that the public holds the judicial system to high standards of professionalism, commending the Chief Justice for taking appropriate measures to protect institutional confidence.

Chief Executive Lee also acknowledged outgoing University of Hong Kong President and Vice-Chancellor Zhang Xiang, who announced plans to step down from his leadership post in 2028, thanking him for his tenure.