In a first in the history of Hong Kong’s statutory building management regime, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs applied in 

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs v Incorporated Owners of Wang Fuk Court & Ors (民政及青年事務局局長 v 宏福苑業主立案法團)

 [2026] HKLdT 4, for orders under section 31(1)(d) of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap.344) to (1) dissolve the Management Committee of Wang Fuk Court (Incumbent MC) and (2) appoint Hop On Management Limited (Hop On) for an indefinite period as administrator of Wang Fuk Court following the fire that broke out at Wang Fuk Court on 26 November 2025 (Fire).

Her Honour Judge Michelle Lam at the Lands Tribunal granted the application on three main grounds:

(1) The Fire resulted in unprecedented and extremely complex issues arising in the management of Wang Fuk Court, beyond the capacity of the Incumbent MC that comprised fourteen layperson owners serving only on a voluntary, part-time basis. There was a need for an independent administrator such as Hop On, which possesses professional experience and has agreed to serve as administrator on a gratuitous basis.

(2) There were doubts regarding the Incumbent MC’s ability to manage Wang Fuk Court effectively. Such doubts were grounded in 

complaints against the Incumbent MC’s management of the maintenance and renovations works, and the fact that, shortly after the Fire, the Incumbent MC

had attempted to put to vote a proposal to suspend construction contracts (which were suspected to be related to the Fire) at an owners’ meeting without first providing owners with legal advice or financial analysis.

(3) The continued management of Wang Fuk Court by the Incumbent MC posed risks of conflict of interest given the potential legal liability of the Incumbent MC in relation to the Fire and the divergent interests between the owners of the single undamaged block and the seven fire-damaged blocks of Wang Fuk Court.

The full judgment (original Chinese text) can be viewed 

 and Ebony Ling, instructed by the Department of Justice, acted for the Applicant.

Members

Recruitment

Latest News

Lands Tribunal grants unprecedented order dissolving the Management Committee of Wang Fuk Court in the aftermath of fire

Recent Judgments

PRACTICE AREAS

About

Members

Recruitment

What's New