The government said on Tuesday it will consider expanding the buyout plan for Wang Fuk Court to cover the only building in the residential estate not to have been affected by November's inferno.

That came as homeowners in the block, Wang Chi House, reached a high level of consensus on one of the options being offered up by the government on their rehousing.

About 77 percent of homeowners in the block expressed preliminary support for the sale of of their homes to the government.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong said at least 75 percent of the owners must sign a letter of acceptance to officially confirm their interest by June 30 for the offer to be binding.

Residents of Wang Chi House, he said, will face a lot of difficulties if they wish to remain, even though the fast-spreading fire left their block untouched.

"In terms of maintenance issues, they will have to put up quite a bit of money in order to carry out all the maintenance works necessary," he said.

"And there are also fundamental problems relating to the underlying lease, relating to the underlying deed of mutual covenant, which if they want to modify under the current law, it requires the agreement of each and every one of the 1,984 households, which is really, really very difficult to reach."

But Wong stressed that the government was not trying to force homeowners to take up the offer.

"We do think the proposal is a good one for them... but it doesn't mean that we'd like to force them to accept the proposal," he said.

"At the end of the day, it is their decision, having regard to their own circumstances.

"But we do think that what we have put on the table is very reasonable and should actually be quite attractive."

The government is offering the same deal to Wang Chi House flat owners as that for the seven blocks directly affected by the fire: HK$8,000 per square foot for flats for which the land premium had not been paid and HK$10,500 for those who have had their premium paid.

The acquisition is expected to cost HK$1 billion for Wang Chi House, Wong said.

Officials also announced that its former residents will get to return home again between May 13 and 17 to collect their personal belongings.

Four people will be permitted to make multiple trips during the designated three-hour time slot.

"On the first day, the first seven levels will be opened, starting from the lower floors. Following that, six additional floors will be opened each day for the next four days," Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said.

People who used to live in the other seven blocks will also be allowed to make a second trip back to their flats, Cheuk added, and arrangements for them to do so will be announced in due course.


Edited by Edmond Fong