Rebuilding the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court on its original site to rehouse displaced residents will be “immensely challenging” because of complex legal and property rights issues, a senior Hong Kong official has said, adding that a cash buy-back would be the “fastest and most flexible” solution.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, who led the government task force on emergency resettlement, has shifted his stance several times over the past few days.

Initially describing in-situ redevelopment as “not practical”, over the weekend he later acknowledged residents’ wishes on Monday. By Wednesday, however, he again stressed the significant challenges involved.

“Assuming building new towers requires four to five years and demolition takes 1½ years, this means we need to handle property rights and legal issues in a large number of flats within some three years’ time, which is considerably challenging,” he said, adding that on-site redevelopment could take a decade.

At the Legislative Council’s first meeting since the fire that claimed 161 lives seven weeks ago, Wong pledged that the government “must allow residents to have choices”, emphasising that their responses to a government survey would not solely determine their future housing arrangements.

Authorities last week launched a survey of all displaced residents, setting out nine rehousing options, including a “flat-for-flat” exchange or a cash buyout.

Wong described the cash buy-back as the “fastest and most flexible” option for thousands affected. He also pointed to a site earmarked for Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats on Chung Nga Road West in Tai Po, which could provide up to 1,500 units by 2029.