Tai Po fire: District councillor involved in Wang Fuk Court renovation controversy resigns
A pro-establishment local councillor embroiled in a controversy over proxy votes for renovations at the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court has resigned, official statements show. Peggy Wong has stepped down from the Tai Po District Council for health reasons, a government statement published on Saturday stated. The local politician was a consultant for the committee that […]
Former Tai Po district councillor Peggy Wong, a pro-establishment member of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), has resigned from her position due to health reasons. Wong had been involved in the renovation project of the fire-affected Wang Fuk Court, which tragically claimed 168 lives in November of the previous year.
The renovation controversy centered around the use of flammable materials, which likely worsened the spread of the fire. An independent inquiry into the disaster concluded in July, with numerous witnesses, including residents and construction firm representatives, testifying before the committee.
During the hearings, residents alleged that Wong had gathered proxy votes in the names of deceased residents and disrupted meetings concerning the renovation. Despite serving on the Tai Po District Council from 2000 to 2019, Wong lost her seat in the 2019 elections during a pro-democracy landslide victory. She returned to the council in 2023 following a revised electoral system, which only allowed "patriotic" candidates to run.
Wong's resignation also included her departure from the Tai Po South Area Committee and her role as captain of the Tai Po Kwong Fuk and Plover Cove sub-district Care Team.
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