Hong Kong Fire Victims Face Distant Move or 13-Year Wait for Homecoming

Hong Kong Fire Victims Face Distant Move or 13-Year Wait for Homecoming Hong Kong authorities have presented residents left homeless by a deadly fire with a difficult choice: accept a new subsidized home in a different area this year, or wait over a decade to return to their rebuilt neighborhood [45681]. The government surveyed displaced residents from Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, where a fire last month destroyed their homes. Officials offered two stark options. The first is to move into available public rental flats located outside of Tai Po, with the earliest move-in date set for September 2024 [45681][25239]. The alternative is to wait for the original site to be completely redeveloped, a process that would not allow residents to return until approximately 2035—a 13-year wait [45681]. The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of the city's housing policies and waiting lists. Housing Secretary Winnie Ho Wing-yin has described the off-site location as a "good choice" for long-term resettlement [53573]. However, members of the Housing Authority have urgently demanded clarity on how this plan will affect the thousands of people already on the public housing waiting list in the Tai Po area [53573]. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun stated the government is confident it can find land in Tai Po for new subsidized housing as part of the resettlement effort [25239]. One option under review involves the government purchasing property rights from current owners, though officials stress that consulting displaced residents is a crucial first step [25239]. The fire has highlighted the persistent challenges of old, dense housing in the city and raised critical questions about renewal policies that prioritize resident safety [58674]. For the victims, the path forward now hinges on a choice between immediate shelter away from their community or a long-term promise to return home. Hong Kong Fire Victims Offered Distant Homes or 13-Year Wait Hong Kong Housing Crisis: Fire Victims to Get Homes Meant for Waiting List? Hong Kong Scrambles to Rehouse Deadly Fire Victims Hong Kong Fire Sparks Urgent Housing Debate