More than 97 percent of owners of apartments at fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court have returned duly signed acquisition letters ahead of Monday’s deadline for them to accept the government’s buyout plan.

The Housing Bureau said that as of noon on Sunday, 97.7 percent of the Tai Po housing estate’s flat owners, consisting of 1,939 households, have returned the duly signed “letter of acceptance”, confirming their intention to sell ownership in exchange for cash, or join the government’s “flat-for-flat” arrangement.

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The two major options were offered under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s long-term settlement plan for those affected by the deadly blaze at the eight-block complex in November last year.

The bureau said the SAR government has so far signed sale-and-purchase agreements with 1,541 households, or 77.7 percent, of the estate.

A spokesman urged owners who’ve yet to respond, but intend to sell their ownerships to the government not to miss out on the last opportunity to return their signed acquisition letters by Monday afternoon.

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As the deadline approaches, the “engagement team” coordinated by the bureau is stepping up efforts to contact owners who’ve yet to respond to the buyout offer.

Owners may hand in their signed acceptance letters to their designated “engagement team” member at or before 5pm on Monday, or submit it with a return envelope by post, by hand or by courier.

The inferno on Nov 26 devastated seven of the estate’s eight blocks, claiming the lives of 168 people. The government said in February it would spend HK$6.8 billion ($870 million) to buy back all the flats from the owners.