Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong on Sunday said more than 1,500 people left homeless from the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court have now been rehoused free of charge.

Speaking on Commercial Radio, Wong said around 1,000 are in transitional housing or Housing Society estates while the rest are in hotels.

But Wong – who heads the emergency rehousing working group – stressed hotels are only a short-term solution.

“Hotels are, after all, commercial operations. They cannot let Wang Fuk Court residents stay indefinitely,” he said.

“Transitional housing has another clear advantage: it is typically run by social welfare organisations or churches, so they can provide a full range of support services, including psychological counselling.”

“Many of the people already living in these units are volunteers themselves, and they would be of a good help to the so-called ‘new villagers’.”

The multi-block estate in Tai Po had nearly 2,000 units.

According to the latest census figures in 2021, it was home to over 4,600 people.

Wong said enough spare units are available to rehouse all affected residents.

But as most people want to stay in Tai Po, the minister urged them to consider units in other districts if local ones fill up.