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2025
In view of the No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po that had caused multiple casualties, the Chief Executive convened an interdepartmental urgent meeting yesterday afternoon. The Government’s Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre was then activated, with officers from relevant departments closely monitoring the situation, co-ordinating efforts to strive to alleviate the impact of the fire. The Government said its top priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue trapped residents; the second is to treat the injured; the third is to provide post‑incident support, offer assistance to the families of the deceased, the injured and affected residents; and the fourth is to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Firefighting, police workThe Fire Services Department (FSD) received reports at 2.51pm yesterday that a fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court. Its staff arrived speedily at 2.56pm and discovered that the scaffolds outside the building had caught fire, and that the blaze had spread to the interior and other buildings. Firefighting and rescue operations began immediately. The fire was upgraded several times and reached the No. 5 alarm at 6.22pm. Eleven jets and eight turntable ladders have been deployed for water spraying, and 26 search and rescue teams are handling assistance calls at scene. During the operation, the FSD dispatched over 200 fire appliances and about 100 ambulances, and mobilised over 1,200 fire and ambulance personnel. Separately, police officers set up a command post upon arrival and mobilised over 1,000 staff to co-ordinate residents’ evacuation, rescue operations and emergency support. In addition to directing traffic at the scene and surrounding areas, Police also implemented road closures, traffic control measures and diversions to facilitate rescue operations. Moreover, the force has set up a casualty enquiry hotline. If members of the public suspect that their relatives or friends have gone missing in relation to the fire, they can call 1878 999 for assistance. During the operation, the Auxiliary Medical Service has deployed six ambulances and 33 staff to provide on-site treatment and transport the injured to hospitals. Medical careUpon the FSD’s notification about the blaze, the Hospital Authority immediately activated the Major Incident Control Centre to co-ordinate contingency measures, with the accident and emergency departments of nine public hospitals having been alerted to standby to receive casualties. Among them, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and North District Hospital mobilised their full resources for rescue efforts. Meanwhile, North District Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital also sent staff to the incident site to help triage and provide initial treatment to patients. The burn centres of Queen Mary Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital, as well as Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy centre, were prepared for the incident to receive patients anytime. Evacuation needsIn response to the evacuation needs involving Kwong Fuk Estate, staff members of the Housing Department and the management company concerned have provided assistance to residents. The Housing Bureau and the Housing Department have also been maintaining close contact with the Home Affairs Department and the Social Welfare Department to provide full assistance to the affected residents, including arranging those at Wang Fuk Court and Kwong Fuk Estate in need to move to transitional housing, interim housing or transit centres. The Tai Po District Office (TPDO) has opened multiple temporary shelters for residents in need. As at 9.30pm yesterday, about 900 people were using the shelters. The TPDO has deployed all 19 District Services & Community Care Teams across the district to provide support, while the Sha Tin District Office (STDO) nearby and its care teams have provided cross-district support. Care teams in other districts will also be mobilised to provide appropriate support. The TPDO, STDO and North District Office have set up interdepartmental help desks at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and North District Hospital to provide assistance and handle public enquiries. Welfare, emotional supportAdditionally, the TPDO will provide assistance to families of the deceased and injured in their applications for the Emergency Relief Fund or the Special Aid Fund, as well as liaise with various assistance funds operated by other charitable organisations. The Social Welfare Department has deployed social work officers and supporting staff to the help desks and shelters to offer help to the residents. Besides, the Civil Aid Service mobilised over 100 people to assist with the operation of the temporary shelters. Medical social workers will provide emotional support to the injured and their families. Through liaison by the TPDO, the Hong Kong Red Cross deployed staff to the temporary shelters to provide emotional support and medical assistance. The Health Bureau has also arranged for the “18111 - Mental Health Support Hotline” to step up its manpower to handle calls. Moreover, support information on coping with stress or negative emotions has also been posted to the “Shall We Talk” social media channels. Building safetyLast month, the Buildings Department (BD) issued a circular letter to all registered building professionals and registered contractors, urging them to inspect and ascertain that the protective net and the like used in their construction projects are in compliance with the recognised standards in terms of fire-retardant capability. Wang Fuk Court is a sold property under the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS). The works are carried out by Prestige Construction & Engineering, a registered contractor hired by the Incorporated Owners of the HOS court. The Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) exercises building control over the works in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance. The ICU will conduct an investigation into the fire. If violations of the Buildings Ordinance are found, the case will be referred to the BD for handling, including prosecution or disciplinary proceedings. In response to the fire, the BD and the ICU will carry out special operations targeting ongoing construction projects. Registered building professionals and registered contractors will be required to review records or test certificates relating to the fire-retardant properties of the protective nets and the like used in scaffolds, and submit reports. As at midnight, the Tai Po fire has resulted in 36 deaths and 36 injuries, including one fireman among the deceased.
Police today arrested three men in-charge of a construction company, for manslaughter in relation the No. 5 alarm fire in Tai Po yesterday. At about 2.50pm yesterday, Police received reports saying that a fire broke out at a housing estate on Tai Po Road - Yuen Chau Tsai. The fire on some scaffolding spread rapidly to other blocks in the estate and resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. Upon initial investigation, it was suspected that the protective nets, tarpaulins and plastic sheets used for the maintenance works may not have been up to fire safety standards. Foam boards were also found installed to the windows of the buildings. The three men, aged 52 to 68, were arrested in Ngau Tau Kok, Tai Po and Wong Tai Sin today. They are being detained for further enquiries. The New Territories North Regional Crime Unit is carrying out an investigation. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to offer is urged to call the investigating officers at 5566 0087.
The Immigration Department today announced that residents affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po may visit any Registration of Persons Office during office hours for the replacement of their Hong Kong identity card without an appointment.Affected residents who need to replace their Hong Kong Special Administrative Region travel documents may visit Immigration Headquarters or any Immigration Branch Office during office hours without an appointment.Send an email or call 2824 6111 for enquiries.
Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Shenzhen Vice Mayor Luo Huanghao co-chaired a meeting of the task force on the collaboration for the planning and development of Hong Kong-Shenzhen control points in Hong Kong today to continue taking forward relevant work in the planning and development of boundary control points (BCPs). Mr Tang welcomed the arrival in Hong Kong of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government leaders, as well as representatives of the Office of Port of Entry & Exit of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and other relevant units to participate in the task force meeting. Noting that the flow of people between Hong Kong and Shenzhen continues to increase, Mr Tang said that the governments of the two sides attach great importance to the planning, development and management of BCPs, maintaining close collaboration and continuously optimising boundary-crossing services. Both parties strive to enhance the capacity and operational efficiency of BCPs, injecting new momentum to enhance the convenience of people's livelihood and the integrated development of industries. During the meeting, the two delegations discussed the planning and development of land BCPs, including reporting on the progress and exchanging views on the redevelopment projects of the Huanggang and Sha Tau Kok BCPs. Concluding the meeting, Mr Tang said that the task force serves as a co-operative platform for developing convenient and efficient BCPs. He expressed hope that both sides would continue to collaborate on innovation to promote smart clearance and the upgrade of infrastructure, with a view to facilitating the smooth flow of people and goods and jointly promoting the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Other Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials attending the meeting included representatives from the Customs & Excise Department, the Immigration Department, the Architectural Services Department and the Department of Health.
Due to the No. 5 alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the Government has opened a number of temporary shelters for people in need. The temporary shelters, all in Tai Po, are as follows: Tai Po Community Centre on Heung Sze Wui Street Fu Shin Community Hall on On Po Road Good House at Shuen Wan Chan Uk Kwong Fuk Community Hall at Kwong Fuk Estate; and Tung Cheong Street Community Hall on Tung Cheong Street. CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School, on Plover Cove Road in Tai Po, is also open to accommodate residents evacuated. In addition, interdepartmental help desks have been set up at Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (hotline: 2658 4040) and Prince of Wales Hospital (hotline: 3505 1555) for assistance and public enquiries. For enquiries about casualties, call the Police’s hotline at 1878 999. A fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po at 2.51pm this afternoon. It was upgraded to a No. 5 alarm at 6.22pm and caused deaths and injuries.
Chief Executive John Lee today held an interdepartmental urgent meeting to assist residents affected by the fire in Tai Po. He was deeply saddened that the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po caused multiple deaths and injuries, including the passing of fire services personnel on duty. He extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and injured. Mr Lee is also extremely concerned about the incident and immediately activated the Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre. He was briefed by the Security Bureau and the Fire Services Department and steered the relevant departments to make every effort to carry out firefighting, rescue and cure work. All government departments are fully assisting residents affected by the fire, prioritising the safety and well-being of the public. The Home Affairs Department, District Offices and Social Welfare Department have set up interdepartmental help desks, arranged for residents in need to move to temporary shelters, and provided assistance and mental support to the families of the deceased and injured. The Hospital Authority has also activated the emergency mechanism to make every effort to save and care for the injured. Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung was deeply saddened by the death of fireman Ho Wai-ho, during the fire in Tai Po today. Mr Tang said: “I am profoundly grieved at the passing of Mr Ho, who lost his life in the course of an operation. I offer my deepest condolences to his family members.” He also expressed sympathies to the family members of others who died in the fire and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung and Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung also expressed sadness at the passing of Mr Ho.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders may now visit Algeria without a visa for up to 14 days, the Immigration Department announced today. Noting that Algeria is a member of the Belt & Road Initiative, the department said the visa-free arrangement will bring travel convenience, and strengthen tourism-related, cultural and economic ties between the two places. Including Algeria, 174 countries and territories allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Hong Kong SAR passport holders.
Police’s National Security Department, during an enforcement operation in Kwai Chung yesterday, arrested a 32-year-old local man and a 27-year-old local woman. The pair are suspected of committing the offences of “doing an act with seditious intention” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, “assisting offenders” and “possession of dangerous drugs”. They are now being detained for further enquiries. An investigation revealed that from October 2020 to October 2025, the man was allegedly involved in repeatedly publishing posts with seditious intention on his shop's social media platform as well as funding activities endangering national security. Acting on a court warrant, Police also searched the man’s shop in Kwai Chung. Cash and related invoices were seized. Officers also seized a small quantity of suspected cannabis at the suspects’ residence in Kwai Chung.
The Shanghai Foreign-Related Adjudication Talent Training Course, co-organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Shanghai High People’s Court, drew to a close today at the Changning campus of the East China University of Political Science & Law (ECUPL). Secretary for Justice Paul Lam delivered a video speech at a closing ceremony for the three-day course. Shanghai High People’s Court President Jia Yu also gave a speech. The course was tailored to the training needs of the 70 judges who make up the first batch of Shanghai’s “foreign-related adjudication talent pool”. Nearly 30 foreign-related adjudication judges from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui were invited to participate. The content of the course focused on practical difficulties in foreign-related adjudication, including the characteristics of Hong Kong's common law system under the “one country, two systems” principle; that system’s interplay with the Mainland’s codified law; and issues relating to contract law, evidence, judicial reviews, ascertainment of foreign law and drafting of judgments. Various experienced legal professionals from Hong Kong, including members of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Expert Committee, gave lectures, assisting participants in better understanding the basic framework and principles of common law and enhancing their ability to handle cross-border cases. Mr Lam outlined in his speech that under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong is the only region in the country practicing common law, and is the only bilingual common law jurisdiction globally that uses both Chinese and English as official languages. He expressed hope that participants on the course gained a deeper understanding of the differences between the common law and civil law systems, in order to strengthen the complementarity of Hong Kong’s common law and Mainland laws. Additionally, a Hong Kong Common Law Day, co-organised by the Training Academy and the ECUPL, was held yesterday at the ECUPL's Songjiang campus. It brought together experts from universities and the judicial and legal practice sectors in Hong Kong and the Mainland, to share their views on the common law, the nurturing of foreign-related talent and the handling of cross-border foreign-related disputes.
In considering whether to issue orders under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) prohibiting the operation of the “Hong Kong Parliament” and the “Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union” in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Secretary for Security today issued written notices to the two organisations. The notices allow them to make representations before such orders are made. The Security Bureau said that pursuant to section 60(1) of the SNSO, if the Secretary for Security reasonably believes that it is necessary for the purposes of safeguarding national security to prohibit the operation of an organisation in the Hong Kong SAR, the Secretary for Security may, by way of an order published in the Government Gazette, prohibit the organisation's operation. Having carefully considered all relevant information, the Secretary for Security takes the preliminary view that there are reasonable grounds to believe that it will be necessary to prohibit the operation of the two organisations in the Hong Kong SAR. As such, the two organisations are allowed to make representations, in accordance with section 60(4) of the SNSO, before a final decision is made. The bureau stated that the two organisations in question aim to subvert state power. Their objectives include promoting “self-determination”, making a “Hong Kong Constitution”, and overthrowing or undermining the basic system or authority of the People's Republic of China or the authority of the Hong Kong SAR. Acts specified as offences in sections 62 to 65 of the SNSO include acting as an officer-bearer or a member of a prohibited organisation; participating in any activity or meeting of a prohibited organisation; inciting any other person to become a member of a prohibited organisation; and giving aid of any kind to or procuring any subscription or aid for a prohibited organisation. Those who commit such offences are liable to a fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for 14 years. The bureau reiterated that endangering national security is a very serious offence, and that acts or activities which do so may lead to extremely grave consequences. It said the Hong Kong SAR Government will always resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the Hong Kong National Security Law, the SNSO and other relevant laws designed to safeguard national security in order to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law. It added that this includes prohibiting the operation of organisations that engage in activities endangering national security in the Hong Kong SAR.