24 Dec 2025明報#7733
宏志閣業主倘回遷 下期補助將停 當局曾稱領補助不可返回 議員指早應仔細解釋
A No. 5 alarm fire broke out at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last month. When applying for rent subsidies, owners of unaffected Wang Chi House units were required to sign a declaration confirming that they would not live in their units or rent them out while receiving the subsidy; false statements could lead to criminal prosecution. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said in a Facebook post the night before last that the declaration was intended only to prevent abuse of the assistance, stressing that “if the building is subsequently unsealed, Wang Chi House owners may still choose to move back even if they are receiving the subsidy, but the subsidy for the next period will not be issued”. Legislative Councillor and lawyer Eunice Yung said the government’s online announcement also had legal effect, but believed the authorities should have considered and explained the matter carefully from the outset rather than providing clarification afterwards.
大埔宏福苑上月發生五級火，未受波及的宏志閣業主申請租金補助時需簽署聲明書，確認領取補助期間不會居於宏志閣單位或把單位出租，若陳述虛假將有遭刑事檢控之虞。民青局前晚於facebook專頁發帖文解釋，聲明只為防止濫用資助，強調「若之後大廈解封，宏志閣業主即使正接受補助，仍可選擇搬回單位，惟下一期補助將不會發放」。立法會議員兼律師江玉歡表示，政府的網上公布亦具法律效力，但認為當局應一早仔細考慮及解釋，而非事後補充。
23 Dec 2025集誌社#7728
宏福苑火災｜$ 41 億援助金 已用 $ 12 億 公眾捐款 去向盤點
The Government said recently that the Wang Fuk Court Aid Fund in Tai Po had accumulated about $3.8 billion in donations. Together with the Government’s $300 million seed funding, the fund totalled about $4.1 billion. About $1.2 billion has so far been spent on the various aid measures announced, while there have also been occasional reports of disaster victims lacking supplies. The Collective reviewed the support measures launched by the fund, finding that about $870 million, or 77%, was used to provide subsidies to owners.
政府日前稱，大埔宏福苑援助基金現時累積約 38 億元捐款，連同政府投入的三億元啟動資金，總額約為 41 億元，目前已公布的各項援助措施用了約 12 億元，另一邊廂，偶有災民缺乏物資的消息。《集誌社》整合基金已推出的各項支援措施，當中約 8.7億、即 77% 用於為業主提供補助。
23 Dec 2025集誌社#7730
宏福苑火災｜獨立委員會成員 首入災場視察
Members of the “Independent Commission” investigating the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po visited the fire scene for the first time today (23rd). At about 10:45am, dozens of people wearing protective suits, including police officers and firefighters and those believed to be members of the Independent Commission, entered Wang Chi House together for an inspection. Wang Chi House was the only building not affected by the fire. The members are understood to have subsequently inspected another building and left at about noon.
大埔宏福苑火災的「獨立委員會」成員，今（23日）首次來到宏福苑火災現場視察，早上約 10 時 45 分，數十名身穿保護衣的人員，包括警方及消防員，及相信是獨立委員會的成員，一起進入宏志閣內部視察。宏志閣是唯一一座未受火火波及的樓宇。據了解，委員其後有到另外一幢樓宇視察，他們約中午 12 時離開。
22 Dec 2025集誌社#7723
宏福苑火災｜放吊機拆棚 遊樂場集體回憶設施被移除 毛蟲爬架「倖存」 街坊：二次傷害
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.
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。
21 Dec 2025集誌社#7719
羊場末路｜洪水橋發展收地 600 羊兒無處容身 發展局、漁農署：不排除需「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.
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」。
20 Dec 2025明報#7716
大埔宏福苑五級火 | 出席殉職消防員路祭被指衣著花巧 大埔民政專員致歉
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.
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。
20 Dec 2025集誌社#7717
宏福苑五級火｜$38 億援助基金背後 真「屋主」未能領補助 「委屈」難說清？
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.
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。
19 Dec 2025集誌社#7710
宏福苑五級火｜政府首引《建管例》解散宏福苑法團管委會 委任華懋旗下公司管理
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.
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。
18 Dec 2025集誌社#7707
宏福苑五級火｜業主每年 15 萬租津、為期兩年 料最後一次補助租戶 發 5 萬搬遷資助
Following the five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, the Government established an assistance fund. As of noon yesterday (17th), the fund had reached HK$3.8 billion, including HK$300 million from the Government and HK$3.5 billion in public donations. The Government today announced two support measures for affected residents: owners will receive an annual rental subsidy of HK$150,000 for two years and a one-off HK$50,000 relocation grant, while tenants will receive a one-off HK$50,000 relocation grant. Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Cheuk Wing-hing said the subsidies would give residents flexibility to rent suitable accommodation. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak said this would be the fund’s final cash subsidy for tenants, stressing that the fund should focus on supporting Wang Fuk Court owners’ long-term housing needs.
Asked whether it was appropriate to provide owners with only HK$150,000 in annual rental subsidies when the fund held HK$3.8 billion, Cheuk said the Government had referred to the pre-fire rental level at Wang Fuk Court of about HK$12,500. He added that the rental subsidies, relocation grants and other measures would cost about HK$1.2 billion, stressing that the support measures had to be reasonable and that any rehousing arrangements or use of the fund had to make proper and prudent use of the donations.
宏福苑五級火後政府成立援助基金，截至昨日（17日）中午，連同政府投入三億元、外界捐款 35 億元，基金累計共 38 億元。政府今公布兩項支援災民措施，分別向業主提供為期兩年、每年 15 萬元租津，以及一次性五萬元搬遷補助，而租戶則獲一次性五萬元搬遷補助。政務司副司長卓永興指，補助將為居民提供彈性租住適合居所；民青局局長麥美娟則指，今次將是基金最後一次以現金補助租戶，強調基金應集中支援宏福苑業主長遠居住需要。
被問及基金有 38 億元，每年僅發放 15 萬元租津是否適切？卓永興指參考了大火前宏福苑租金水平約為 12500 元，又指租津和搬遷補助等共約花 12 億，強調支援措施要有合理性，亦要考慮重置方案或用動用到基金，要「用得其所」和審慎運用捐款。
12 Dec 2025明報#7677
增收外地生直資校 准升國際課程佔比 最高達49%多間有意申 津校憂競爭加劇
This year’s Policy Address proposed a pilot scheme allowing Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) primary and secondary schools to apply from the 2026/27 school year to expand classes and relax class-size limits in order to admit more self-financed non-local students holding student visas. The Education Bureau wrote to all DSS schools yesterday to introduce the scheme, mentioning for the first time that DSS secondary schools could simultaneously apply to raise the proportion of students studying international curricula from the current general level of about one-third to as high as 49%, meaning at least 51% would study the local Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) curriculum. At least four DSS schools told this newspaper they intended to apply. A DSS secondary-school principal said the scheme would help with student recruitment, while a principal of a prestigious aided school feared that competition for students would intensify. The secondary school principals’ association hopes the authorities will extend the scheme to government and aided schools.
今年《施政報告》提出試點計劃，准直資中小學申請下學年（2026/27）起擴班及放寬每班學生人數，以取錄更多持學生簽證的自資非本地生。教育局昨致函全港直資學校介紹計劃，首次提及容許直資中學同步申請提高國際課程學生佔比，由目前一般佔約三分之一，最高增至佔49%，即最少51%人修讀本地中學文憑試（DSE）課程。最少4間直資學校向本報稱有意申請，有直資中學校長認為有助收生，有津貼名校校長憂慮收生競爭加劇。中學校長會盼當局拓展計劃至官津校。
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
