Hong Kong offers buyouts to owners of houses burnt in deadly fire that killed 160

The government in Hong Kong has proposed to buy out the houses in the high-rise residential complex that was gutted by fire last year, killing over 160 people.

Authorities HK$8,000 per sq. ft. to HK$10,500 per sq. ft. to the owners of the homes. "We believe the proposed price is sufficient for the affected residents to relocate and secure long-term housing," said Wong Wai-lun, Hong Kong's deputy financial secretary.

The government also offered an apartment exchange programme for the 4,600 affected tenants, who lived in nearly 2,000 housing units at the complex, Wang Fuk Court.

The total outlay, estimated at HK$6.8 billion, will drop by HK$2.8 billion from a contribution by a relief fund, and could go lower still after insurance compensation is factored in, the officials said.

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The estate, home to nearly 5,000 residents, had been undergoing extensive renovations linked to the fire’s cause. Public anger has intensified over alleged past safety violations by the construction company and lax enforcement of standards, with residents reportedly complaining about the renovations for over a year.

As allegations of safety violations grew, alongside revelations that government authorities had issued multiple apparently unenforced warnings, residents asked why no officials had yet faced consequences. Instead, two civilians were reportedly arrested by national security police.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court were told by authorities in 2024 they faced “relatively low fire risks” after complaining about fire hazards posed by the renovations, Reuters quoted the city’s Labour Department as saying.

The residents raised concerns in September, 2024, including about the potential flammability of the mesh contractors used to cover the scaffolding, a department spokesperson said.

Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze, has stunned the city, where legislative elections are due to be held this weekend.