As of noon today, donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had reached about $3.4 billion. Combined with the $300 million in startup capital from the Government, this takes the fund to a total of around $3.7 billion.

Concurrently, 1,392 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels, camps, or hotel rooms. Another 3,163 residents are living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or the Housing Society.

On the Government’s online platform for donated supplies, about 1,800 registrations have been received, with approximately 30% submitted by organisations. About 19,600 donated items, covering various categories, have been distributed.

The Housing Department continued to remove the burnt scaffolding on the external walls of Wang Cheong House, Wang Tai House and Wang Sun House.

For the sake of safety, the department will conduct assessments along with the Police Force on a timetable for removing the scaffolding on the remaining four affected buildings. Additionally, the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit has completed the extraction of concrete core samples from the seven affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court.

The Development Bureau earlier announced a new mechanism for sampling and testing scaffold nets for external walls in Hong Kong. The Buildings Department is preparing a new practice note for registered contractors and will meet with the industry next week.

The bureau is also moving ahead at full steam arrangements to ensure there are sufficient designated laboratories and a suitable site for off-site sampling work.