Flat owners of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court housing estate will receive rental grants until December 2027 regardless of the options they choose under a long-term housing arrangement plan announced by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

“This arrangement will help them rebuild their long-term homes with greater flexibility,” the SAR government said in a statement on Friday while announcing the decision of the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po regarding the two-year standard rental grant.

In December, the government announced that the support fund will provide each owners with an annual grant of HK$150,000 ($19,132) from Dec 22, 2025 to Dec 21, 2027, with a payment of HK$75,000 disbursed on a half-yearly basis.

Meanwhile, the government announced on Feb 21 that it would spend HK$6.8 billion to buy back from owners all the flats destroyed in the Nov 26 devastating fire that claimed 168 people’s lives.

ALSO READ: Hong Kong extends tax break for Wang Fuk Court residents

According to the acquisition plan, if flat owners just sell their titles and receive the payment, and choose not to participate in the government’s special sales exercise for purchasing new subsidized sale flats, their rental grants will be provided up to the date on which cash payments for acquisition are credited to their accounts, as flat owners could use the sum to make their own long-term housing arrangements, a government spokesperson said.

Under the enhanced measures announced on Friday, owners are eligible to receive their grants until Dec 21, 2027 regardless of whether they choose to receive cash only; participate in the special sales exercise for purchasing new subsidized sale flats after receiving the payment; or acquire a new subsidized sale flat under the "Flat-for-Flat" arrangement, even if a suitable flat could not be selected in the event under the special sales exercise.

The arrangement is also applicable to flat owners who have not signed the government’s acquisition letters, added the spokesperson.

ALSO READ: Tai Po fire: 85.6% of Wang Fuk Court owners return buyout offer letter

For owners who choose to participate in the special sales exercise, including those who opt for the cash acquisition and those who choose the "Flat-for-Flat" arrangement, if the occupation date of their chosen unit is after Dec 21, 2027, the support fund will continue to provide rental grants to owners who have not yet moved into their new units, the spokesperson said.

As it may take about three months for owners to renovate their new homes, their eligibility for the rental grant will be maintained for three months after the date of the assignment of the new flat that they have purchased, the spokesperson said, adding that no further instalments of the rental grant will be made after this period.