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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Latest news and updates on the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district that killed 168 people, including a firefighter. Scores of people were also hurt.

Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po

Bank of China account: 012 8752 190 1597

Hong Kong Red Cross

https://www.redcross.org.hk/en/index.html

Operation Santa Claus Emergency Appeal

https://oschk.org/

Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council

https://www.skhwc.org.hk/en/

Hong Kong Family Welfare Society

https://www.hkfws.org.hk/en/home

Po Leung Kuk

https://www.poleungkuk.org.hk/en

Feeding Hong Kong

https://feedinghk.org/

District councillor Peggy Wong leaves a meeting in January. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong fires and safety

District councillor linked to Tai Po fire resigns as adviser to second estate

Peggy Wong’s decision to step down from advisory role at Plover Cove Garden followed petition by several homeowners.

12 Jun 2026 - 7:25PMvideocam

Hong Kong courts

Editorial | As charges are laid in the Tai Po fire case, justice must be done

12 Jun 2026 - 6:45AM

Hong Kong courts

7 people, 2 firms face manslaughter, other charges over deadly Hong Kong fire

11 Jun 2026 - 6:47PMvideocam

Hong Kong economy

Union warns low civil servant pay rise after Tai Po fire would ‘bow to populism’

Unions argue that an across-the-board pay rise of 2 per cent will not offset inflation or reflect overall performance.

10 Jun 2026 - 3:41PMvideocam

The government froze civil servants’ pay last year. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong

Help for 40 estates that hired Tai Po fire-linked consultant for projects

Urban Renewal Authority says the 40 housing estates have an urgent need to clarify completed yet unpaid work costs.

10 Jun 2026 - 12:45AMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Operation Santa Claus: charities help Tai Po fire survivors rebuild their lives

Initiatives by Habitat for Humanity and Tai Po Baptist Church Social Service provide furniture and community support to displaced residents.

7 Jun 2026 - 5:16PM

Hong Kong

Hong Kong watchdog to propose criminalising bid-rigging as early as September

Senior Counsel Jat Sew-tong also says competition commission will conduct study into city’s auto fuel market amid surge in prices.

5 Jun 2026 - 8:10PM

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong

‘All reasonable steps’ for site smoking ban include CCTV, cigarette storage

Smoking is set to be prohibited at all construction sites following deadly Tai Po blaze.

4 Jun 2026 - 11:58PM

Hong Kong

Adminstrator to ‘review’ tribunal decision on Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

Hop On Management Company says it will arrange extraordinary general meeting as displaced owners have requested, but does not indicate time frame.

3 Jun 2026 - 7:59PM

Hong Kong

Hong Kong tribunal rejects request to postpone Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

Lands Tribunal says it lacks power to extend statutory deadlines, urges government-appointed administrator to convene meeting immediately.

2 Jun 2026 - 9:22PM

Hop On Management Company’s senior counsel, Hectar Pun Hei, left, argued it had been unable to contact 383 households after the fire and had struggled to identify a suitable venue that could accommodate at least 1,000 people. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong tribunal judge questions power to postpone Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

Judge acknowledges challenges faced by government-appointed administrator, but stresses limits of court’s powers to extend 45-day deadline.

1 Jun 2026 - 8:38PM

Hop On Management Company’s senior counsel, Hectar Pun Hei, left, urged the tribunal to consider the firm’s difficulties in verifying homeowners’ signatures and securing a venue capable of accommodating at least 1,000 people. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Who benefits from the ‘significant improvement’ in Hong Kong’s finances?

When it comes to this year’s civil service pay rises, policymakers would do well to consider public sentiment.

1 Jun 2026 - 9:30AM

Hong Kong fires and safety

Opinion | On fire safety, Hong Kong needs a mindset change

The hearings of the committee looking into the Tai Po fire and the Fire Services Department’s inspections show there is much room for improvement.

1 Jun 2026 - 5:30AMvideocam

Hong Kong

NGO offers HK$30,000 to residents of blaze-hit Tai Po blocks who transfer ownership

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals also reveals that more than 1,000 inquiries have been received regarding its legal aid scheme.

31 May 2026 - 9:21PM

The Tung Wah Group has offered HK$30,000 in relocation aid to Tai Po fire victims who agree to transfer ownership of their properties to the government. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong

Hong Kong cuts emergency mobile alert activation time from 1 hour to 15 minutes

Alerts can also be tailored to specific districts under upgraded Emergency Alert System, security chief says.

31 May 2026 - 12:04AM

Emergency mobile alerts sent in 2022 by the Hong Kong government regarding Queen Elizabeth Hospital being converted to a designated Covid treatment facility. Photo: Warton Li

Hong Kong fires and safety

Hearing results key to compensation for Wang Fuk Court residents: experts

Legal and insurance experts say sale of flats to government won’t affect residents’ rights to claims but they must prove negligence had caused losses.

30 May 2026 - 5:57PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong must not delay making bid-rigging a criminal offence

Readers discuss a gap in Hong Kong’s governance, collective liability for smoking on construction sites, and the environmental responsibility of event organisers.

30 May 2026 - 11:30AM

Accidents and personal safety

Hong Kong approves smart IoT fire alarms for 3,600 old buildings after pilot scheme

Detectors installed in flats and public areas of building send warning to fire department within 60 seconds of detecting carbon monoxide or smoke.

28 May 2026 - 9:20PMvideocam

Old residential and commercial buildings in Mong Kok.The roll-out of the IoT smart fire alarm system follows a pilot scheme covering 10 buildings earlier this year. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong

Hong Kong unveils proposed overhaul of fire safety laws as consultation begins

Six months on from deadly Tai Po blaze, authorities launch consultation exercise on proposed amendments to Fire Services Ordinance.

27 May 2026 - 1:13AM

Hong Kong housing

Editorial | Hong Kong must not slip into complacency on fire safety

The city is right to extend its safety inspection regimes for old buildings, even as it moves to enforce stricter standards for cramped subdivided flats.

26 May 2026 - 6:45AM

Hong Kong

Wang Fuk Court family’s marathon efforts to retrieve belongings one last time

Residents Joe and Annie race against time to pack anything valuable they can find during second and final visit.

26 May 2026 - 3:29PMvideocam

Joe and Annie visit their flat. Photo: Theodora Yu

Hong Kong

Video | ‘Farewell, Wang Fuk Court’

Wang Kin House residents complete their final visit to their former home after deadly Tai Po fire.

25 May 2026 - 8:09PM

01:13

Hong Kong

Hong Kong banks replace burnt cash from residents of fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court

Monetary Authority introduced measures last December allowing three note-issuing banks to provide one-stop exchange service for damaged money.

25 May 2026 - 7:37PM

Hong Kong society

Dignity for the dead: 6 Hongkongers form city’s first corpse restoration team

Team under funeral information platform RIPHK has handled more than 10 cases since December, including victims of Tai Po fire.

23 May 2026 - 5:33PM

Hong Kong society

Operation targeting fire safety in old Hong Kong buildings extended for 2 years

Initial two-month scheme resulted in 75 prosecutions, with fire service aiming to check another 5,000 buildings following Tai Po blaze.

21 May 2026 - 11:53PM

Checks are being carried out on buildings planned at least 39 years ago. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong

Government to handle Wang Fuk Court insurance claims under buy-back plan: Hop On

But some residents who took part in second briefing by administrator say questions remain over how and when they can expect to receive compensation.

20 May 2026 - 11:02PM

The government has earmarked HK$6.8 billion to acquire flats at seven of the eight blocks of the estate damaged by the fire. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong

Tai Po blaze: Hong Kong to ban smoking at construction sites from July 17

Workers violating law face HK$3,000 fine, while contractors who fail to prevent them from lighting up can be hit with HK$400,000 penalty.

20 May 2026 - 12:23AM

Mainland China

Hong Kong lifts flat resale curbs for Tai Po fire survivors under buy-back plan

Owners can sell replacement flats any time and get two-year vouchers to buy second-hand subsidised housing.

19 May 2026 - 10:55PM

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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

District councillor linked to Tai Po fire resigns as adviser to second estate

Peggy Wong’s decision to step down from advisory role at Plover Cove Garden followed petition by several homeowners.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | As charges are laid in the Tai Po fire case, justice must be done

7 people, 2 firms face manslaughter, other charges over deadly Hong Kong fire

Union warns low civil servant pay rise after Tai Po fire would ‘bow to populism’

Unions argue that an across-the-board pay rise of 2 per cent will not offset inflation or reflect overall performance.

Help for 40 estates that hired Tai Po fire-linked consultant for projects

Urban Renewal Authority says the 40 housing estates have an urgent need to clarify completed yet unpaid work costs.

Operation Santa Claus: charities help Tai Po fire survivors rebuild their lives

Initiatives by Habitat for Humanity and Tai Po Baptist Church Social Service provide furniture and community support to displaced residents.

Hong Kong watchdog to propose criminalising bid-rigging as early as September

Senior Counsel Jat Sew-tong also says competition commission will conduct study into city’s auto fuel market amid surge in prices.

‘All reasonable steps’ for site smoking ban include CCTV, cigarette storage

Smoking is set to be prohibited at all construction sites following deadly Tai Po blaze.

Adminstrator to ‘review’ tribunal decision on Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

Hop On Management Company says it will arrange extraordinary general meeting as displaced owners have requested, but does not indicate time frame.

Hong Kong tribunal rejects request to postpone Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

Lands Tribunal says it lacks power to extend statutory deadlines, urges government-appointed administrator to convene meeting immediately.

Hong Kong tribunal judge questions power to postpone Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

Judge acknowledges challenges faced by government-appointed administrator, but stresses limits of court’s powers to extend 45-day deadline.

Opinion | Who benefits from the ‘significant improvement’ in Hong Kong’s finances?

When it comes to this year’s civil service pay rises, policymakers would do well to consider public sentiment.

Opinion | On fire safety, Hong Kong needs a mindset change

The hearings of the committee looking into the Tai Po fire and the Fire Services Department’s inspections show there is much room for improvement.

NGO offers HK$30,000 to residents of blaze-hit Tai Po blocks who transfer ownership

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals also reveals that more than 1,000 inquiries have been received regarding its legal aid scheme.

Hong Kong cuts emergency mobile alert activation time from 1 hour to 15 minutes

Alerts can also be tailored to specific districts under upgraded Emergency Alert System, security chief says.

Hearing results key to compensation for Wang Fuk Court residents: experts

Legal and insurance experts say sale of flats to government won’t affect residents’ rights to claims but they must prove negligence had caused losses.

Letters | Hong Kong must not delay making bid-rigging a criminal offence

Readers discuss a gap in Hong Kong’s governance, collective liability for smoking on construction sites, and the environmental responsibility of event organisers.

Hong Kong approves smart IoT fire alarms for 3,600 old buildings after pilot scheme

Detectors installed in flats and public areas of building send warning to fire department within 60 seconds of detecting carbon monoxide or smoke.

Hong Kong unveils proposed overhaul of fire safety laws as consultation begins

Six months on from deadly Tai Po blaze, authorities launch consultation exercise on proposed amendments to Fire Services Ordinance.

Editorial | Hong Kong must not slip into complacency on fire safety

The city is right to extend its safety inspection regimes for old buildings, even as it moves to enforce stricter standards for cramped subdivided flats.

Wang Fuk Court family’s marathon efforts to retrieve belongings one last time

Residents Joe and Annie race against time to pack anything valuable they can find during second and final visit.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Video | ‘Farewell, Wang Fuk Court’

Wang Kin House residents complete their final visit to their former home after deadly Tai Po fire.

Hong Kong banks replace burnt cash from residents of fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court

Monetary Authority introduced measures last December allowing three note-issuing banks to provide one-stop exchange service for damaged money.

Dignity for the dead: 6 Hongkongers form city’s first corpse restoration team

Team under funeral information platform RIPHK has handled more than 10 cases since December, including victims of Tai Po fire.

Operation targeting fire safety in old Hong Kong buildings extended for 2 years

Initial two-month scheme resulted in 75 prosecutions, with fire service aiming to check another 5,000 buildings following Tai Po blaze.

Government to handle Wang Fuk Court insurance claims under buy-back plan: Hop On

But some residents who took part in second briefing by administrator say questions remain over how and when they can expect to receive compensation.

Tai Po blaze: Hong Kong to ban smoking at construction sites from July 17

Workers violating law face HK$3,000 fine, while contractors who fail to prevent them from lighting up can be hit with HK$400,000 penalty.

Hong Kong lifts flat resale curbs for Tai Po fire survivors under buy-back plan

Owners can sell replacement flats any time and get two-year vouchers to buy second-hand subsidised housing.

Editorial | As charges are laid in the Tai Po fire case, justice must be done

Video | ‘Farewell, Wang Fuk Court’