or petition issued by the owners of fire-stricken apartment houses in Wang Fuk Court, lacked authentication mechanisms and may contain forged signatures, the government has said after complaints from residents.
The Department of Home Affairs said Thursday it received complaints from some Wang Fuk Court residents who criticized the petition for not verifying the identities of signatories.
“Individual homeowners said the so-called petition lacked authentication mechanisms and may involve people impersonating owners and forging signatures. The personal information collected also risks being misused or misused without authorization,” the department said in a Chinese-language email response.
The department said it has referred the matter to law enforcement agencies for investigation.
The request was rejected
petition, launched last monthcalled for a formal meeting of the owners with the government-appointed property manager, Hop On Management.
As of Wednesday, it had been signed by 428 Wang Fuk Court apartment owners – down from the previous number of 431 after invalid signatures were found, organizers of the HKFP petition said.
Residents are seeking clarity on outstanding issues, including future accommodation, disbursement of public donations and insurance claims, and management of remaining funds for property renovation and maintenance.
Hong Kong Building Management Ordinance ESTABLISHING that a management committee must call a general meeting at the written request of at least five percent of the owners. Wang Fuk Court has a total of 1,984 units and 430 valid signatories would pass the required threshold.
However, Hop On, a subsidiary of real estate giant Chinachem Group, rejected the request. In an emailed response on Sunday, Hop On told a signatory that the petition did not meet legal requirements and that it would not be holding a formal owners’ meeting at this stage.
“After a detailed review and consultation with legal counsel, we note that… you had collected the owners’ concerns through an online form but provided no further information,” Hop On said in the email, which was seen by HKFP.
‘Update Session’
However, the government-appointed administrator will hold an in-person “update session” in early May on financial issues such as compensation and refunds. according to in a statement issued on Saturday.
Hop On said the session will not overlap ongoing public inquiry into the fire or scheduled dates for residents to return home to collect personal belongings. The details of the hearing will be announced later, the release said.
Residents of Wang Fuk Court will be allowed to return to their fire-ravaged apartments between April 20 and May 4 to retrieve personal belongings, the government said. announced earlier.
The fire in November killed 168 people and displaced thousands – Hong Kong’s worst fire since 1948.
Hop On was selected by the government in January for it take over as “administrator” of the property after the owners corporation board was dissolved by the Lands Court.
