The Hong Kong government is confident that at least three-quarters of homeowners of Wang Chi House – the only block unscathed in the Wang Fuk Court fire – will accept its buy-back package by the end of June.
Speaking on Saturday, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said few owners were likely to change their minds about the government’s offer for the 248 flats, which were initially excluded from the resettlement plan.
Wang Chi House was the only one of the estate’s eight towers that was not damaged in the catastrophic blaze.
Authorities recently announced that the buy-back offer would be extended to the block if at least 75 per cent of owners signed an official letter of acceptance by June 30 and an agreement for sale and purchase by October 15.
Wong, who is in charge of resettling homeowners affected by the Tai Po fire, earlier noted that 77 per cent of owners at Wang Chi House had expressed initial interest in selling their property rights to the government, and he reiterated his confidence in the figure on Saturday.
“We have reasonable confidence,” he told a radio programme. “The numbers have been stable, those who change their minds are in the minority. If we can get to three-quarters by the end of June, I’m confident we will have that by mid-October, too.”
He stressed that the government would not try to persuade residents to accept the package, as the scheme was voluntary.