A Hong Kong company appointed by the government to administer the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court has asked the Lands Tribunal to postpone a statutory deadline for holding a homeowners’ meeting. Hectar Pun (left), counsel for government-appointed administrator Hop On Management, leaves the Lands Tribunal on June 1, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Hectar Pun, a lawyer representing Hop On Management, told the tribunal on Monday that the firm had faced challenges in verifying signatures and finding venues for the meeting.
Hop On, a subsidiary of real estate giant Chinachem Group, applied to the Lands Tribunal to postpone the May 13 deadline for notifying owners of the meeting and the June 13 deadline for convening the meeting.
Judge Gary Lam noted that Hop On had made an ex parte application – a request for a court order without the presence of the opposing party – and told the firm to consider the matter from the perspective of the flat owners.
He also asked whether the court should postpone the deadline every time Hop On encountered difficulties. Pun replied that the tribunal has the judicial powers to make delays as long as there is “good cause” to do so.
Judge Lam said that the court would hand down its decision at 3pm on Tuesday.
Hop On was appointed by the government to take over administrative duties at Wang Fuk Court from the board of the owners’ corporation weeks after the deadly November fire at the Tai Po housing estate.
The Lands Tribunal granted the government’s appointment of the firm in early January.
Homeowners’ petition
Hop On said last month that it would apply to the tribunal to extend the deadline for holding a homeowners’ meeting after it received a petition with 247 handwritten signatures asking the firm to meet with flat owners to discuss long-term resettlement and related financial matters. Wang Fuk Court on April 22, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The total number of signatures supporting the petition exceeded the 5 per cent threshold needed to convene a meeting stipulated by the Building Management Ordinance. See also: Tai Po fire: Residents say ‘no choice’ but to accept buyback as deadline looms According to the ordinance, the management committee should issue notice of the meeting within 14 days and hold the general meeting with owners within 45 days.
Wang Fuk Court resident Jason Kong, one of the petition’s organisers and a former board member, was arrested for alleged government loan fraud last month, two weeks after delivering the petition.
After he was released from police detention, he said he would no longer take media interviews .