The Hong Kong authorities have considered difficulties faced by Wang Fuk Court owners and market prices of their units to make cautious use of public funds while formulating ownership acquisition plan of the fire-ravaged housing complex, the city’s chief executive said on Tuesday.

Talking to the press ahead of the Executive Council meeting, John Lee Ka-chiu pointed out that the acquisition offer letters – sent to the owners on Thursday – have provided a range of options on acquisition and purchase of new units.

He expressed his hope that the flat owners will consider the offers based on their own needs and situations.

“The government has assumed various risks associated with these plans, including the uncertainty over insurance compensation and potential legal proceedings. The lengthy acquisition process will also put pressure on affected families,” said Lee.

The engagement team will continue to explain all the related aspects to the owners and provide support to relieve owners’ pressure, the CE added.

Expressing his full faith in Chairman of the Independent Committee Justice David Lok Kai-hong and two other committee members, he praised the committee for working “tirelessly” to examine a large amount of evidence and reports and hold public hearings on the Nov 26 fatal fire that claimed 167 people’s lives.

“I have granted the committee maximum flexibility and autonomy, as well as reserve powers. If necessary, it may request that a particular step be conducted as a statutory committee. The entire committee operates independently, so I respect and have confidence in how it will operate,” he said.

License limit for ride-hailing services

Asked about the limit on the number of licenses for ride-hailing services, the CE reiterated that the government, when issuing licenses, must ensure a consistent riding experience for passengers, the capacity of the city’s roads, and the fact that a large majority of residents commute by public transport daily.

The government's objective is to "ensure that ride-hailing services operate within a lawful, appropriate, and safe framework while fostering healthy competition and complementarity between taxi and ride-hailing services, thus enhancing the overall quality of point-to-point transport services and providing the public with more convenience and options", he said.

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The government aimed to submit the subsidiary legislation to the Legislative Council within the first half of this year, he added.

Civil service pay adjustment

In response to a question regarding the civil servants’ pay adjustment, the CE said this year's approach remained consistent with six major factors taken into account, such as Hong Kong's economy, the cost of living, the government's financial situation, and civil servants’ morale.

“Civil servant pay adjustments will impact overall labor market as public and private organizations generally refer to the government's practices,” he said, adding that the Pay Trend Survey Committee will announce its initial results by the end of May.