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As the ashes of the Wang Fuk Court fire linger, authorities in Hong Kong are making significant strides in their special rehousing scheme. Overwhelmingly, 85.8% of the 1,702 flat owners in blocks A to H have already signed sale agreements with the government, according to official figures released on Monday. The Housing Bureau's computerised selection process has determined the sequence for the final two digits of the application numbers, guaranteeing a fair and transparent allocation of subsidised flats.

The tragic November fire, which claimed 168 lives and displaced nearly 5,000 residents, prompted the government to purchase all 1,984 flats at the subsidised estate. Owners can choose to sell their current homes at HK$8,000 or HK$10,500 per square foot, depending on whether they've paid the land premium. Those who accept the offer by August 31 will have priority in selecting new flats.

The special sales exercise, set to begin later this month, will see the government distributing priority orders based on application numbers, inviting eligible participants to attend selection sessions. Over 4,400 flats across 10 development projects in Kowloon Bay, Kai Tak, Kam Tin, Tseung Kwan O, Ping Shan, Tung Chung, Tai Po, Fanling, and Kwun Tong will be set aside for these owners.

Despite the financial incentive, six residents have expressed reluctance to sell, arguing that no monetary compensation can replace their lost homes and community ties.