Hong Kong ‘to release list of 161 fire victims’ as rehousing questions grow

AdvertisementHong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedyHong KongExclusive | Hong Kong ‘to release list of 161 fire victims’ as rehousing questions growDisplaced Wang Fuk Court residents call for clarity about rehousing arrangements, says, saying they have received conflicting informationReading Time:3 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPEmily HungPublished: 3:39pm, 11 Jan 2026Updated: 11:13pm, 11 Jan 2026Hong Kong police have informed some families who lost loved ones in the deadly Tai Po fire that the full list of the 161 victims will be made public, the Post has learned, prompting displaced residents to call for clarity on long-term rehousing arrangements amid conflicting information.Their appeal followed remarks by Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai‑lun a day earlier, who said in‑situ redevelopment was “not practical”, even though that option had been included in a government survey sent to affected households.In the aftermath of the blaze, which killed 161 people and injured 79, members of the public and the media have pressed the government to release the names of the deceased, as it did following the 2012 Lamma Island ferry collision that claimed 39 lives.AdvertisementIn a reply to the Post, police did not deny the plan, saying only that investigations and follow-up work were continuing.Six weeks after the Wang Fuk Court fire, Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades, four residents who lost family members told the Post separately that officers contacted them by phone on Sunday to relay the plan.Advertisement“Police called us and said they will release the list. They didn’t ask if we agree or not, or tell us when,” said one resident, who asked not to be named.AdvertisementSelect VoiceChoose your listening speedGet through articles 2x faster1.25x250 WPMSlowAverageFast00:0000:001.25x