The State Council dismissed Winnie Ho following John Lee’s recommendation, after she stepped down in response to the Wang Fuk Court fire.
Beijing has officially terminated Hong Kong’s housing chief, Winnie Ho Wing-yin, from her position, after she resigned last week to assume political responsibility for the fatal Tai Po blaze.
As reported by the state-owned Xinhua News Agency, the State Council removed Ho on Tuesday at the suggestion of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu. The announcement provided no explanation for the move and did not appoint a replacement.
In a government statement, Lee stated that Ho had expressed her willingness to “take political accountability” for the incident and commended her commitment to advancing his housing initiatives.
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“Now that she formally departs her role today, I wish her every success in her future pursuits and a life full of health,” he remarked.
Ho is the sole bureau-head-level official to have resigned in connection with the fire. Lee had emphasized that she should bear political responsibility, despite no evidence of personal misconduct being found.
Michael Wong Wai-lun, the deputy financial secretary, has been acting as secretary for housing since Ho stepped down.
According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the central government holds authority over the appointment and dismissal of principal officials, following nominations by the chief executive.
She submitted her resignation last Wednesday, just one day prior to the release of the independent committee’s report on the Wang Fuk Court fire. The incident, the city’s most devastating blaze in decades, claimed 168 lives and left nearly 5,000 people displaced.
The Independent Checking Unit, operating directly under the Housing Bureau led by Ho, faced criticism for insufficient oversight and was found to bear significant responsibility for the disaster.
In a statement following her resignation, Ho did not offer an apology but expressed hope that the deceased would find peace and that their families could heal and move forward from their sorrow.
Ho entered government service in 1992 as an architect and steadily advanced through the ranks over more than 30 years, eventually becoming director of architectural services before being appointed housing secretary in 2022.
During her time in office, she managed the project aimed at constructing 30,000 light public housing units to offer temporary relief to families residing in inadequate housing conditions.
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This piece was first published on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), a premier news outlet covering China and Asia.
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