Wang Fuk Court fire | John Lee thanks central authorities before firefighters, cancels celebrations but declines to postpone LegCo election
宏福苑大火｜李家超先謝中央再謝消防 取消一切慶祝活動但拒延立法會選舉
Following a visit to the Wang Fuk Court fire scene in Tai Po on Thursday afternoon (the 27th), Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu briefed reporters at Government Headquarters that evening on the latest situation and measures to support residents affected by the No. 5 alarm fire. Lee again thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his close attention to the fire before thanking frontline firefighters and medical personnel. He also announced the cancellation of all government-organised celebratory activities. Asked whether the Legislative Council election would be postponed, he said the decision would be reviewed later. Lee said the fire at the estate’s seven blocks was under control. The government would provide HK$10,000 in emergency assistance to each affected household and establish a HK$300 million Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Assistance Fund, which would also accept public donations. More than 500 people are currently staying in temporary shelters. The government has identified about 1,000 units, including youth hostels and hotels, for affected residents to stay in temporarily over the next one to two weeks, and has set aside a further 1,800 units, including transitional public housing and Hong Kong Housing Society subsidised-sale flats, for their subsequent short-term accommodation. Lee said the government would cancel all government-organised celebratory activities and officials would reduce attendance at unnecessary events. Asked whether next Sunday’s (December 7) Legislative Council election would be postponed, he said the government would focus on disaster relief at this stage and review the decision after completing the first phase of work. The Information Services Department said that evening that mourning arrangements would be organised, including flying flags at half-mast at government buildings, holding a memorial service and setting up condolence books for people from all sectors to express their condolences and support.
宏福苑五級大火｜李家超再度感謝中央 拒絕推遲立法會選舉 向每戶派1萬元應急 特首李家超周四（27日）下午到大埔宏福苑火災現場視察後，傍晚在政府總部見記者交代最新災情及支援災民的措施。期間李家超再次感謝中國國家主席習近平高度關注今次火災，之後才感謝前線消防及醫護人員。李家超又宣佈，會取消一切由政府主辦的慶祝活動，但被問到會否延遲立法會選舉，他就重申稍後再檢討決定。 李家超表示，宏福苑7幢大廈的火勢已經受控，政府會向受影響的居民每戶派發1萬元應急，同時政府會設立3億港元「大埔宏福苑援助基金」，並接受外界捐款，為居民提供協助。目前有超過500人入住臨時庇護中心，李家超表示，政府已物色約1,000個單位包括青年宿舍及酒店，讓受影響居民在未來一至兩星期作臨時留宿，另預留1,800個單位，包括政府過渡性房屋及房協居屋，可之後短期安置受影響居民。 李家超又宣佈，取消政府主辦的一切慶祝活動，官員亦會減少出席不必要的活動，但被問到會否推遲下周日（12月7日）舉行的立法會選舉時，他就表示現階段要專心救災，在完成首階段工作後再檢討決定。政府新聞處晚上表示將安排悼念活動，包括政府建築物下半旗誌哀、悼念會、設立弔唁冊，讓社會各界表達悼念和慰問。