Public donations to a government fund for victims of the Wang Fuk Court fire have reached HK$2 billion.

Along with the administration's initial HK$300m injection, the total pot is now up to HK$2.3 billion to help affected residents rebuild their lives and homes.

Financial support for immediate relief is also well under way.

More than 1,900 eligible households have each received an emergency cash subsidy of HK$10,000, whereas applications by 104 families for a HK$50,000 living allowance have been processed.

More than 2,600 affected residents have been rehoused in transitional housing, estates run by the Housing Society, hotels or youth hostels.

More than 860 registrations have been made on the government online platform www.taipodonation.hk to donate essential items like food, clothing, bedding and electrical appliances.

Students from Tai Po Baptist Public School, which will remain closed for some time because of the fire, will attend classes at two other schools in the district from the middle of the month, with the Education Bureau setting aside HK$5 million to support the school’s operations during this period.

Meanwhile, police have taken two more people into custody on suspicion of manslaughter, bringing the total number of arrests to 15.

The latest suspects, aged 59 and 66, are the external wall repair subcontractors of the project.