Hong Kong government offers to buy back homes damaged in high-rise fire

The Hong Kong government has offered to buy back homes damaged or destroyed in a massive deadly fire at a high-rise apartment complex last November.

The government said on Saturday that the plan will cover about 1,700 units at seven towers affected by the blaze. It estimates the cost at roughly 870 million US dollars. The government aims to demolish the buildings and redevelop the site as parks or other community facilities. The fire broke out on November 26, leaving 168 people dead and more than 4,000 displaced.