Authorities in Hong Kong have announced they will purchase homes that were destroyed in a major fire that broke out on November 26 last year, deemed the worst in the city for decades. The compensation offer ranges from 2.8 to 4.1 million kroner per resident, as confirmed at a press conference by Vice Finance Minister Michael Wong. This initiative aims to assist residents in relocating and securing permanent housing.

The fire, which rapidly spread to seven high-rise buildings in a residential complex, resulted in the tragic loss of 168 lives. In light of this disaster, the government has decided not to rebuild the apartments that were lost but rather to repurpose the land for public buildings or park development. The total expenditure for acquiring these destroyed properties is expected to be around 5.5 billion kroner.

This step reflects Hong Kong's approach toward disaster recovery, focusing on compensation and future urban planning rather than reconstruction of the affected housing. The decision will significantly impact community rebuilding efforts and offers a glimpse into the government's priorities following such a catastrophic event, which has deeply affected the city.