Hong Kong’s housing authorities have received 1,698 duly signed acquisition letters, as of Tuesday morning, from flat owners of Wang Fuk Court, about 85.6 percent of the total number of units in the residential complex devastated by a deadly fire in November last year.

The issuance of the letter of acceptance is part of the government’s effort to acquire the ownership of the flats at the housing complex in the city’s Tai Po district.

The Nov 26 blaze tore through seven of the eight buildings of Wang Fuk Court, claiming the lives of 168 people. In February, the government announced that it would spend HK$6.8 billion ($870 million) to buy back from owners all the flats.

If the owners accept the acquisition offer, regardless of which option they choose, they must return the duly completed and signed letter of acceptance by Aug 31, the government said in a statement in May.

ALSO READ: Bulk of Wang Fuk Court flat owners agree ownership sale to govt

Among the returned letters, 1,481 came from seven fire-affected buildings, representing about 85.3 percent of the total number of flats in these buildings, according to the Housing Bureau.

Meanwhile, 217 letters came from owners of flats in Wang Chi House, the lone apartment block unaffected by the disaster, forming about 87.5 percent of the total number of flats in the block, the bureau added.

The acquisition plan will be formally available if 75 percent or more of Wang Chi House owners sign the letter of acceptance on or before Tuesday to confirm their intention to sell, the bureau said earlier in May.

READ MORE: HKSAR govt issues buyback offer letters to Wang Fuk Court owners

The bureau reminded owners to return the duly signed letters to confirm their intention to sell their titles to the government and secure flat selection priority under the Special Sales Exercise in the first batch.