Home and Youth Affairs Bureau holds first training session in 2026 for members of District Councils
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) held the first training session for members of the District Councils (DC) in 2026 at the Central Government Offices today (February 6). The training covered the Government's support and response work after the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po. It aimed to provide guidance to the DC members on how to respond to and help affected residents in the event of a major disaster, as well as enhancing the collaboration with District Committee members and Care Teams, thereby giving full play to the functions of the "troika" in district governance. DC members were also requested to assist in improving the efficacy of building management in their daily work in order to prevent the reoccurrence of similar incidents.
The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, shared the Government's handling of the fire, in particular areas under the purview of the HYAB team. These included immediately opening community halls as temporary shelters, mobilising Care Teams to assist residents, helping with the receipt and distribution of supplies and the disbursement of emergency subsidies, establishing the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po to render assistance to residents of Wang Fuk Court and support various related initiatives, and co-ordinating with operators of hotels and youth hostels/camps to provide emergency short-term accommodation for the residents. The Government also invoked for the first time section 31 of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (BMO) to apply for dissolution of the then management committee of the owners' corporation (OC) of Wang Fuk Court, and appointment of an administrator to assist in clarifying the legal liabilities and entitlements of the OC and the owners, and examining the accounts of the OC.
Miss Mak said that under the leadership of the Chief Executive, the Government was pressing ahead with improvement measures on various fronts and implementing systemic reforms to break down barriers of vested interests. The HYAB and the Home Affairs Department are conducting a comprehensive review of the BMO following five preliminary amendment directions. The HYAB will consult the property management sector, OCs and owners on proposals for further amendments to the BMO, and will also collect views at district level through the Working Group on Building Management (WGBM) of DCs to take forward the subsequent legislative amendment exercise.
Miss Mak told DC members that the incident had highlighted the advantages of the executive-led system after improving district governance, where districts could effectively mobilise the "troika" and the HYAB had greatly enhanced its capability to take actions. The Wang Fuk Court fire had heightened concerns among different sectors of the community and the general public about building management and safety in repair work. Miss Mak reminded DC members that, at the frontline of district governance, they should proactively assist owners and residents in need in handling matters relating to building management, and make good use of the WGBM of DCs to provide suggestions to the Government. Miss Mak encouraged DC members to enhance the communication and interactions with residents and listen to their imminent concerns, with a view to identifying, intervening and resolving problems faced by the people at an early stage. She also expected that DC members would work together with the Government to drive the post-fire reforms to build a safer Hong Kong.
The HYAB will continue to arrange different training sessions and visits to enhance the DC members' capabilities in discharging their duties and improve the efficacy of district governance to deliver tangible benefits for the people.
Home and Youth Affairs Bureau holds first training session in 2026 for members of District Councils Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
