Chief Executive John Lee formally accepted the resignation of Winnie Ho as Secretary for Housing on Thursday, following last year's Wang Fuk Court fire that resulted in 168 deaths. At a press conference, Lee and other senior officials apologized and bowed, expressing deep sorrow over the incident. Lee stated that although Ho did not commit any personal wrongdoing, she must take political responsibility due to her role in housing policy.
Lee explained his decision by considering various factors such as the specific roles of officials, the connection between policy portfolios and the incident, the nature of the issues involved, the distinction between policy and implementation, the performance of subordinates, and the workload of the political team moving forward. Michael Wong, the Deputy Financial Secretary, will serve as the acting Secretary for Housing.