Victor Dawes, former chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, has been appointed lead counsel to an independent committee investigating the city’s deadliest fire in decades, with the inquiry expected to begin in the first quarter, the Post has learned. “Preparation work [for the hearing] has been under way at full force. The target is…
Hong Kong contractors will be able to start installing new scaffolding nets to resume renovation works as early as next week after the deadly Tai Po blaze triggered the citywide removal of mesh at around 420 buildings, an industry body has said. The Construction Industry Council planned to procure 50,000 scaffolding nets, costing HK$170 (US$21.80)…
Hong Kong district councillors have proposed building residential blocks on a Tai Po site reserved for public housing to resettle residents displaced by last year’s deadly fire, with about 1,300 flats expected by 2030. Lo Hiu-fung, chairman of Tai Po district council’s newly set up working group on building management, also said he would convene…
Tai Po district councillors have urged the government to expedite rebuilding plans and offer Wang Fuk Court residents a range of rehousing options after Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, as officials pledged to weigh the pros and cons of each proposal. At the first meeting of Tai Po District Council since the fire on…
Hongkongers displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire feel as if they are “being tossed around like a ball” after being told to leave their temporary accommodation by the end of the month, and are urging authorities to let them stay until long-term housing is found. Affected residents were recently told by social workers that…
The owners’ committee of the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong has rejected accusations of poor transparency and accountability as a “baseless smear campaign”, issuing a lengthy report ahead of a legal process to dissolve the group. In a 183-page report issued on Monday to fellow owners of Wang Fuk Court in…
Residents left homeless by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades have been told to vacate their emergency accommodation at youth hostels by the end of this month so the facilities can resume their normal operations. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said on Sunday that affected residents could move to transitional housing or use the…
When a Hong Kong resident surnamed Chow opened his front door at Shek Kip Mei Estate on Sunday, he was met by a dense wall of black soot. “[The smoke] was cutting my throat and nose, and my eyes won’t stop tearing,” said the man in his forties as he recounted the harrowing struggle with…
A long queue has formed outside a “lucky” Hong Kong Jockey Club betting branch in Central ahead of a much-anticipated HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) Mark Six jackpot on Saturday night. More than 100 residents were seen outside the betting shop on Stanley Street, widely known for selling first-prize-winning Mark Six tickets, with the queue stretching…
Tourist numbers on New Year’s Eve have shown that Hong Kong remains an attractive destination for countdowns, according to the tourism minister, with sector representatives underscoring the need to direct visitors to different parts of the city. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Saturday that close to 200,000 visitors arrived…