The Housing Bureau on Tuesday reminded owners of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to sign and return their "Letter of Acceptance" by 5pm on August 31 if they accept the government's acquisition offer.

The reminder covers eight blocks – from A to H – in the fire-damaged estate.

A Housing Bureau spokesman said the acquisition price is about 30 percent higher than market valuations before the blaze in November, as assessed by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors.

"The arrangements made for this 'special case of exceptional nature' will not constitute a precedent," the spokesman said.

After the August 31 deadline, unsold titles will be handled through the market mechanism. The government has not ruled out using legislative means to deal with remaining unsold flats, the spokesman added.

The government has reserved more than 4,400 flats across 10 development projects by the Housing Authority and Housing Society for owners who have sold their titles. A ballot and flat selection process under the Special Sales Exercise will begin in September.

Owners who have not yet signed a sale and purchase agreement may still participate in the ballot, the bureau said.


Edited by Aaron Tam