Policy blowback shows why Hong Kong lawmakers must play a bigger role

The dust has settled on the election of the Legislative Council president, and committees and panels have settled into the new Legco. Most, it seems, are ready to hit the ground running. First on the agenda: dealing with the aftermath of the Tai Po fire.The more immediate matters involve the rebuilding of a community that has lost so much. Equally pressing are the long-standing issues laid bare by the tragic fire that demand the government fix the entire building sector. Consultations with displaced families on rehousing options are under way.The government has given Wang Fuk Court homeowners nine rehousing plans to consider. The quickest option would allow move-in by September. The options include Home Ownership Scheme housing developments, all outside the Tai Po district. Redevelopment was also offered but this is an option that would take the longest time – 2035 at the earliest.Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, who chairs a government task force on the emergency resettlement, drew flak for calling the redevelopment option “not practical” despite the wishes of some residents to stay within the community and be rehoused at the same site.The emotional weight of these homes and what they meant for displaced residents had not been given enough weight and Wong was heavily criticised for what was considered an inconsiderate and insensitive comment. Residents, worried the government is not serious about redevelopment, have launched a petition fighting for that option.Other voices have also urged the government not to rule out this most challenging and time-consuming option. Former lawmaker and veteran unionist Chan Yuen-han said it was irresponsible of officials to offer an option that could take a decade and called the city’s long reconstruction time frames a joke, a sign Hong Kong has not kept up with the mainland.Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) chairman Gary Chan Hak-kan and fellow members speak to the media after tabling a Wang Fuk Court redevelopment proposal to Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, at the government headquarters in Tamar on December 10. Photo: Nora Tam