The Tai Po fire disaster has significantly disrupted the normal rhythm of social life in Hong Kong. However, after eight days of relentless all-out efforts, the disaster has been put under control.
First, the fire has been fully extinguished. Second, relief and resettlement efforts have been carried out swiftly and effectively. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government opened nine temporary shelters to accommodate displaced residents. Subsequently, approximately 3,000 individuals were relocated to transitional housing or hotels, and only a few dozen still remain in the shelters. The government launched a “one social worker per household” support mechanism and additionally assigned two to three civil servants per household to ensure that every family receives personalized assistance.
Meanwhile the government has allocated HK$10,000 ($1,285) in emergency relief to each affected household. Starting this week, the government will distribute an additional HK$50,000 in living subsidies to each household, provide HK$200,000 in condolence payments to the families of those whose deaths were caused by the fire, HK$50,000 or HK$100,000 in medical subsidies to hospitalized individuals, and HK$20,000 in assistance to affected students, workers, and surviving foreign domestic helpers. The government has taken the lead by allocating HK$300 million to set up a support fund, which has thus far received HK$2.1 billion in donations, for supporting the rebuilding of the affected community.
Third, investigation into the incident is gaining pace. The Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, led by Eric Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration, has made progress, with a preliminary investigation indicating that the safety nets used in the renovation work could have failed to meet fire-retardant requirements. A joint task force comprising the Hong Kong Police Force and the Independent Commission Against Corruption has been formed to conduct a comprehensive criminal investigation, and 15 individuals have been arrested.
Fourth, regulatory reforms have been promptly initiated. The fire exposed loopholes in the building works. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday the establishment of a judge-led independent committee to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth review of the building work system, focusing on eight major areas, with the objective of facilitating systemic reforms.
While postponing the election would offer certain benefits, it carries even greater drawbacks. Taking a long-term and holistic view of the LegCo election, proceeding with the vote as scheduled on Sunday is undoubtedly the logical and rational choice — one made with a clear understanding of the situation and a careful weighing of the trade-offs
These measures not only address the immediate needs for current relief work but also lay the foundation for ensuring legal accountability and institutional improvement in the longer term.
With the emergency phase of disaster response drawing to a close, the focus now shifts to ensuring proper resettlement of affected residents, conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, and promoting post-disaster reconstruction. At this critical juncture, both disaster relief and the upcoming Legislative Council election are of equal importance. Proceeding with the LegCo election as scheduled on Sunday to return a high-caliber legislature is essential for advancing reforms and good governance. It is not only a way to honor the memory of those lost but also a necessary step in furthering Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development.
Postponing the LegCo election would do more harm than good. In the aftermath of the fire, some members of the public suggested postponing the election to concentrate efforts on disaster relief and recovery. However, as an essential component of the governance structure of the SAR, LegCo plays a crucial role in the city’s institutional framework. The current-term LegCo will end on Dec 31, and any vacuum would be detrimental to the overall functioning of Hong Kong. This would itself manifest in at least four key areas.
First, it would be detrimental to post-disaster reconstruction. The rebuilding process following the Tai Po fire involves not only physical reconstruction of housing but also the revision of relevant construction and building standards and regulatory frameworks. Legislative proposals related to housing redevelopment and legal amendments must be reviewed and approved by LegCo in a timely manner. A delay in forming the new LegCo would inevitably slow down the pace of reconstruction.
Second, it would undermine social stability. Since the outbreak of the fire, there have already been attempts by political agitators to exploit the tragedy to provoke animosity toward the government and create chaos. For instance, false claims have circulated suggesting that the government failed to provide free accommodations to affected residents, that firefighters lacked proper equipment and food, and so forth — thereby misleading public opinion. In some cases, individuals have distributed politically charged leaflets at relief sites, attempting to exploit grief and emotion for political ends. If a new LegCo is not formed promptly, the resulting institutional vacuum could provide opportunities for political agitators to exploit for their disruptive maneuvers, posing risks to social stability.
Third, it would negatively affect economic development. From a national perspective, next year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), and Hong Kong’s development is closely tied to major national strategies. To enhance its competitiveness, the city must align itself with national strategies and accelerate integration into the national development strategy. This requires legislative support to facilitate the alignment of legal and regulatory systems. From a global perspective, external conditions remain challenging. Unilateralism and trade protectionism continue to pose risks to Hong Kong’s economy; the city must navigate through these complex environments with both caution and determination. A delay in forming a new LegCo would undoubtedly have adverse effects on economic planning and execution.
Fourth, it would impede the advancement of reforms. The fire has underscored the urgent need to systematically fix the loopholes in the construction sector. Broader reforms are also needed in areas such as disaster prevention and relief, housing safety, and quality of life to optimize systems. To advance these reforms, it is essential that legislators provide constructive input, review proposed legislation, and oversee implementation. Without LegCo operating in a timely manner, such reforms would be stalled.
Everything has its pros and cons. While postponing the election would offer certain benefits, it carries even greater drawbacks. Taking a long-term and holistic view of the LegCo election, proceeding with the vote as scheduled on Sunday is undoubtedly the logical and rational choice — one made with a clear understanding of the situation and a careful weighing of the trade-offs.
The author is vice-chairman of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and chairman of the Hong Kong New Era Development Thinktank.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
