22 Dec 2025Yahoo#7721
Tai Po Wang Fuk Court five-alarm fire | HKU students’ council’s proposed memorial has no follow-up; university cites “force majeure” factors and urges cancellation
大埔宏福苑造成嚴重人命傷亡，至少 161 人罹難。由香港大學學生會八個學會組成的聯院會，原擬 12 月上旬舉行悼念活動，邀請師生及各界人士參與，透過默哀、獻花及留言表達哀思，但至今沒有公布詳情。港大《學苑》引述學會接獲的回覆，校方曾就「社會情況及不可抗力因素」提出疑慮，並勸籲聯院會停止舉辦任何形式之悼念活動，聯院會經考慮後決定取消活動。
《Yahoo 新聞》已向港大查詢是否知悉聯院會原擬舉行宏福苑火災悼念活動，是否拒絕借出場地及不允許舉行任何形式的悼念活動。香港大學發言人今日（22日）下午回覆指，港大處理學生組織場地申請時，一直與學生代表保持溝通，並按照既定指引作出評估，未回應是否不允許舉行悼念活動。
The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po caused serious casualties, with at least 161 people killed. The Inter-Collegiate Council, comprising eight societies of the University of Hong Kong Students’ Union, had planned to hold a memorial event in early December, inviting students, staff and members of the public to express their condolences through a moment of silence, flower offerings and messages. However, no details have been announced. The Undergrad, an HKU publication, quoted a reply received by the societies as saying that the university had raised concerns about “social conditions and force majeure factors” and urged the Inter-Collegiate Council to stop holding memorial activities of any kind. After consideration, the council decided to cancel the event.
Yahoo News asked HKU whether it knew that the Inter-Collegiate Council had planned to hold a memorial for the Wang Fuk Court fire, and whether the university had refused to lend it a venue and prohibited memorial activities of any kind. A University of Hong Kong spokesperson replied this afternoon (the 22nd) that, when handling venue applications from student organisations, HKU had maintained communication with student representatives and conducted assessments in accordance with established guidelines. The spokesperson did not respond to whether the university had prohibited memorial activities.
22 Dec 2025集誌社#7722
Shaw College Student Union at CUHK Ceases Operations, Saying It Learned University Would Not Recognise Its Status
中大逸夫書院學生會昨（21日）宣布，得悉校方將不承認書院學生會地位，即日起停止運作。《集誌社》正向中大查詢。
The Student Union of Shaw College at The Chinese University of Hong Kong announced yesterday (21st) that, having learned the university would not recognise the college student union’s status, it would cease operations with immediate effect. The Collective is making enquiries with CUHK.
22 Dec 2025集誌社#7723
Wang Fuk Court Fire | Crane Deployed to Dismantle Scaffolding; Playground Facilities Holding Collective Memories Removed, While Caterpillar Climbing Frame “Survives” | Residents: “A Second Injury”
毛毛蟲、蝸牛攀爬架、旋轉滑梯⋯⋯80 年代落成的宏福苑，仍保留着不少舊式遊樂設施，火災過後仍完好無缺，不過當局早前開始移除樓宇棚架後，有居民發現部分設施已被移除。《集誌社》記者到現場視察，發現原先有蝸牛攀爬架、鐵滑梯的兩個公園已被清空、剷平；至於宏志閣樓下，則仍可見毛毛蟲攀爬架，未知會否被拆除。
承載幾代人集體回憶的場所突如其來被毀，有街坊坦言傷感：「點解咁多年嚟都 keep 到，惟獨是係咁樣 keep 唔到？係佢哋自己剷平，唔係當日嘅事而冧咗喎」；亦有遊樂場研究者稱設施較為罕見，盼能以新舊融合的方式重置，「對於啲居民來講，就會好似記憶嘅延續。」
房屋局回覆查詢指，災後部分外牆棚架及附屬構築物嚴重燒毀，為保障公眾安全，須使用大型吊機盡快移除，並須移除公園設施，以提供吊機所需工作範圍。至於被拆卸設施的去向及會否重置，當局則未有回應。
The caterpillar and snail climbing frames, metal slide and other old-style playground facilities at Wang Fuk Court, completed in the 1980s, remained largely intact after the fire. However, after authorities began removing the building scaffolding, some residents found that part of the facilities had also been removed. Reporters from The Collective inspected the site and found that the two parks that had contained the snail climbing frame and metal slide had been cleared and levelled. A caterpillar climbing frame could still be seen beneath Wang Chi House, though it was unclear whether it would also be dismantled.
The sudden destruction of a place that carried the collective memories of several generations left some residents saddened. One said: “How come it was kept for so many years, but this one thing couldn’t be kept? They levelled it themselves; it didn’t collapse because of what happened that day.” A playground researcher said the facilities were relatively rare and hoped they could be reinstated by combining the old with the new: “For the residents, it would feel like a continuation of their memories.”
The Housing Bureau said in response to enquiries that some external-wall scaffolding and ancillary structures had been severely damaged by fire after the incident. To safeguard public safety, large cranes had to be used to remove them as soon as possible, and the park facilities also had to be removed to provide the cranes with the required working area. The authorities did not respond on the destination of the dismantled facilities or whether they would be reinstated.
22 Dec 2025法庭線#7724
Cheng Ka-yu prosecutes Wall Street Journal; testifies boss asked her to withdraw before union election and quit executive committee
記協主席鄭嘉如私人刑事檢控《華爾街日報》一案，周一（22 日）踏入第三天聆訊，鄭以控方證人身分作供。她供稱在記協選舉前夕，其直屬上司發訊息及打電話要求她退選，否則工會主席職務將與她在《華》的工作「不相容」（incompatiable），並希望她一併退出記協執委會。
鄭向上司稱會繼續參選後，人事部職員發電郵稱，鄭沒向公司申請許可，參選不獲公司批准。鄭當選主席後約半個月，被《華》正式解僱，理由為她的職位會分配到其他地區。
就《華》一方早前質疑鄭興訟是為取巨額賠償，鄭解釋，提出檢控是因為僱主不能因僱員參與工會而解僱他，惟很少僱主因此負上法律責任，「而我作為一個捍衛記者（權利）的工會領袖，我覺得我需要採取行動，令僱主負上責任」，又提到對勞工處和律政司決定不檢控《華》大感失望。審訊周二續。
The private criminal prosecution brought by Hong Kong Journalists Association chairperson Cheng Ka-yu against The Wall Street Journal entered its third day of hearings on Monday (22nd), with Cheng testifying as a prosecution witness. She said that on the eve of the HKJA election, her direct supervisor sent her messages and called her to ask her to withdraw, otherwise the union chairperson’s position would be “incompatiable” with her work at the Journal, and expressed the wish that she also quit the HKJA executive committee.
After Cheng told her supervisor that she would continue to stand for election, a human resources staff member emailed her saying that she had not applied to the company for permission and that her candidacy had not been approved. About half a month after she was elected chairperson, she was formally dismissed by the Journal on the grounds that her position would be assigned to another region.
In response to the Journal’s earlier suggestion that she brought the prosecution to seek a large compensation payment, Cheng explained that she pursued the case because an employer cannot dismiss an employee for participating in a trade union, but few employers have been held legally responsible for doing so. “As a union leader defending journalists [’ rights], I felt that I needed to take action to hold the employer responsible,” she said. She also said she was deeply disappointed by the Labour Department and Department of Justice decisions not to prosecute the Journal. The hearing will continue on Tuesday.
21 Dec 2025明報#7718
Tai Po Wang Fuk Court No. 5 Alarm Fire | Fire victims unhappy they cannot take donated furniture and appliances from transitional housing; arrangement changed at night to allow residents to take them
有大埔宏福苑災民在社交平台發文，稱搬離過渡屋時被要求不能帶走獲贈的傢俬電器，對此感不滿。負責營運過渡房屋「善樓」的善導會，今日（21日）下午先說希望現住戶遷出而下一戶宏福居民遷入時，已有這些基本生活配套，故早期已告知居民如遷出不能帶走有關物資。不過，到晚上，善導會再出聲明，指「聆聽到大家意見，因此如有任何宏福苑街坊離開善樓時，可按需要帶走傢電」。
善導會總幹事李淑慧晚上向本報稱，基於最初與捐贈者的溝通是希望物資盡可能幫助更多有需要的人，所以過往均向入住居民表達希望他們遷出時留下家電，讓單位有基本配置，方便隨後入住的居民。
Some Wang Fuk Court fire victims posted on social media saying they were dissatisfied after being told they could not take donated furniture and appliances when moving out of transitional housing. The Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong, which operates the transitional housing project “Shan Lau”, said this afternoon (21st) that it had previously informed residents they could not take the items when moving out because it hoped the basic living provisions would remain in place for the next Wang Fuk Court residents moving in. However, the society issued another statement in the evening saying it had “heard everyone’s views” and that any Wang Fuk Court residents leaving Shan Lau could take the furniture and appliances with them as needed.
The society’s secretary-general, Su Hwei Lee, told this newspaper in the evening that, based on its initial communication with donors, the intention was for the donated items to help as many people in need as possible. It had therefore previously told residents that it hoped they would leave the appliances behind when moving out, so that the units would have basic furnishings for the residents who moved in afterwards.
21 Dec 2025集誌社#7719
Sheep farm faces closure | Hung Shui Kiu land resumption leaves 600 sheep without a home; Development Bureau and AFCD: “Humane treatment” may be unavoidable
從洪水橋穿過一批工程車、有一個不對外開放的出入口，這裏接近深圳灣大橋前，沒地名，卻有數百隻羊。從事地盤工作的小玲姐，自遇上人生第一對羊後，廿年來，去過數個地方、羊兒曾供過大學作學習用途。遇上「北部都會區」洪水橋發展，羊群要在明年一月前搬離，否則地政總署收回用地，羊群則或因無處安置而需「人道處理」。
Past construction vehicles and through an entrance not open to the public, near the approach to the Shenzhen Bay Bridge in Hung Shui Kiu, lies an unnamed site where several hundred sheep are kept. Sister Siu Ling, who works on construction sites, has kept sheep for 20 years since acquiring her first pair, moving them between several locations; the sheep have also been supplied to universities for educational purposes. With the Hung Shui Kiu development under the “Northern Metropolis” project, the flock must move out by January next year. Otherwise, the Lands Department will resume the site, and the sheep may have to undergo “humane treatment” if no place can be found for them.
20 Dec 2025明報#7716
Tai Po Wang Fuk Court five-alarm fire | Tai Po district officer apologises over flashy attire at memorial procession for fallen firefighter
在大埔宏福苑五級火殉職的消防員何偉豪，消防處昨（19日）為他舉行最高榮譽喪禮，靈柩先後到達火場及其生前駐守的沙田消防局，舉行路祭與告別儀式，大埔民政專員陳巧敏穿黑白花紋連衣裙出席路祭儀式，被網民批評穿著太花巧。
民政事務總署今（20日）在社交平台發文，稱大埔民政專員和團隊一直盡心盡力處理善後工作，但昨日於路祭儀式上的衣着選擇引起大家關注，大埔民政專員由衷致歉，強調對英勇殉職的消防隊目（追授）何偉豪致以最崇高的敬意和深切的哀悼，未來會繼續做好宏福苑的善後工作。
Firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who died in the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court five-alarm fire, was given a funeral with the highest honours by the Fire Services Department yesterday (19th). His coffin was taken first to the fire scene and then to Sha Tin Fire Station, where he had been stationed, for memorial and farewell ceremonies. Tai Po District Officer Hau Man (1974) Chan attended the memorial procession in a black-and-white patterned dress and was criticised by netizens for wearing attire that was too flashy.
The Home Affairs Department said on social media today (20th) that the Tai Po District Officer and her team had been handling the follow-up work with dedication, but that her choice of clothing at yesterday’s memorial procession had drawn public attention. The Tai Po District Officer expressed her sincere apology, stressing that she extended the highest respect and deepest condolences to Fire Services Department Senior Fireman Ho Wai-ho, posthumously promoted, who died in the line of duty. She said she would continue to handle the follow-up work at Wang Fuk Court properly.
20 Dec 2025集誌社#7717
Wang Fuk Court No. 5 alarm fire | Behind the $3.8 billion aid fund, “actual homeowners” unable to claim subsidies and “grievances” hard to explain
政府日前（18日）公布動用 38 億元援助基金，向屋苑業主發放為期兩年、每年 15 萬元租金津貼，另為業主和租戶提供一筆過五萬元搬遷補助。補助以業主、租客身分作為劃分，有非名義上業主、但負責按揭和供樓多年的居民，痛哭指一刀切和官僚安排，未有考慮到可能存在的複雜業權；即使向社工提交證明、獲家人簽署權益聲明，換來的答案是「sorry…處理唔到」。面對當前經濟困難，亦憂慮未來不獲安排重置，居民形容眼前是「掘頭路…有冤無路訴」，寄望求助議員尋求酌情處理。
The Government announced on the 18th that it would use a $3.8 billion aid fund to provide estate owners with a rental allowance of $150,000 a year for two years, as well as a one-off relocation subsidy of $50,000 for owners and tenants. The subsidies distinguish between owners and tenants. Some residents who are not the named owners but have been responsible for mortgage payments and repaying the home loan for years broke down in tears, saying the blanket and bureaucratic arrangements had failed to take into account potentially complex ownership situations. Even after submitting proof to social workers and obtaining family members’ signatures on declarations of rights and interests, they were told: “sorry… it can’t be processed”. Amid current economic difficulties, they are also worried that they will not be rehoused in the future. Residents described their situation as a “dead end… with grievances but no avenue for redress” and hoped to seek help from lawmakers for discretionary treatment.
19 Dec 2025Yahoo#7709
CY Leung Reveals He Once Met Apple Daily Advertisers; Ta Kung Pao Said Chief Executive Was “Wronged” and CE Office Denied It
壹傳媒創辦人黎智英被法院裁定串謀勾結外國勢力，以及串謀發布煽動刊物罪成，前特首、全國政協副主席梁振英昨日（18 日）在社交平台撰文，指他以往多年來透過公開點名，又以特首身份主動約見《蘋果日報》的大廣告客戶，最終讓《蘋果》的全版和半版廣告「壓縮到接近零」。翻查報道，《蘋果日報》在 2014 年 5 月 28 日曾經報道，除了渣打集團收到「下令」之外，梁振英曾親自或透過「梁粉」向商界及旅遊界明示或暗示不應在《蘋果》賣廣告。翌日，官媒《大公報》就稱「《蘋果》屈特首」，又指特首辦表明「絕無此事」。十一年過去，梁振英文章最終證實了消息。
Following the court’s conviction of Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious publications, former Chief Executive and Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference CY Leung Chun-ying wrote on social media yesterday (18th) that, over a number of years, he had publicly named Apple Daily advertisers and, in his capacity as chief executive, proactively arranged meetings with the newspaper’s major advertisers. He said this ultimately reduced Apple Daily’s full-page and half-page advertising to “close to zero”. Reports show that Apple Daily reported on 28 May 2014 that, in addition to Standard Chartered Group receiving an “order”, Leung had personally, or through his “Leung fans”, explicitly or implicitly indicated to business and tourism-sector figures that they should not advertise in Apple Daily. The following day, the official media outlet Ta Kung Pao said that Apple Daily had “wronged the chief executive” and that the Chief Executive’s Office had stated there was “absolutely no such thing”. Eleven years later, Leung’s article ultimately confirmed the report.
19 Dec 2025集誌社#7710
Tai Po Fire: Government First Invokes Building Management Ordinance to Dissolve Wang Fuk Court’s Management Committee and Appoint Chinachem Subsidiary to Manage Estate
宏福苑五級火過後，業主要面對維修前路、保險索償等複雜問題，現屆及舊有法團主席早前都被廉政公署拘捕。政府今（19日）首引《建築物管理條例》第 31 條，向土地審裁處申請，解散現有宏福苑業主立案法團的管理委員會，委任華懋集團旗下合安管理有限公司為委任管理人，協助宏福苑業主，處理火災後各項管理和後續事宜。民政及青年事務局長麥美娟表示，關注現屆法團管委會是否有能力就各複雜事宜，保障自己權益。
After the five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, owners face complex issues including the way forward for repair works and insurance claims. The current and former chairmen of the owners’ corporation were earlier arrested by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The government today (19th) invoked Section 31 of the Building Management Ordinance for the first time, applying to the Lands Tribunal to dissolve the management committee of the existing Wang Fuk Court Owners’ Corporation and appoint Hap On Management Limited, a subsidiary of the Chinachem Group, as the appointed manager to assist the estate’s owners in handling post-fire management and follow-up matters. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said she was concerned about whether the current management committee had the ability to safeguard the owners’ interests in dealing with the various complex matters.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
