The Feelings of Residents in Kwong Yau House, the Nearest Residential Building to Wang Fuk Court

The Kwong Yau House and Kwong Lai House of Kwong Fuk Estate were temporarily sealed off until yesterday (November 28th) due to their proximity to Wang Fuk Court. The residents of the two residential buildings are now gradually returning to their homes. Nevertheless, they still held heavy hearts for the tragic fire and the misfortunes of the residents in Wang Fuk Court.

The Wang Fuk Court can be seen clearly from the Kwong Yau House, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. And Mrs. Luo, the residents in Kwong Yau House, sighed that they still found it hard to find peace of mind when they viewed the building wreckage through the window after returning to their home. When the fire broke out in Wang Fuk Court, they didn't hear the sound of the fire alarm, but only witnessed the flames flare up in the opposite buildings. "Some of our friends still can't be reached. When we saw the current situation of Wang Fuk Court from our home window last night, we still found it hard to accept." they said.

The Kwong Yau House of Kwong Fuk Estate, Photo by Bastille Post

During the interview process, they sighed repeatedly, saying that the fire had indeed had a significant impact on their lives and moods. They hoped that they could gradually recover and return to a normal life track in the following days.

The Kwong Yau House is the nearest residential building to the Wang Fuk Court. Photo by Bastille Post

Taj deen, an Indian who is also a resident of Kwong Yau House, said that when the fire broke out, his family witnessed the entire process. They were greatly shocked and couldn't sleep well for several nights. Although he and his family would still have lingering hard emotions when they see the charred buildings of Wang Fuk Court from home after the blocking period, he is grateful for the great help from the government and the people around him during the previous days.

Taj deen, the Indian resident of Kwong Yau House, Photo by Bastille Post

He said that in the previous days, the government not only actively provided temporary accommodation for the residents affected by the Tai Po fire, but also arranged three meals a day for them. As for he and his family, who are Muslims from India, the meals were all carefully prepared based on their dietary habits. In his eyes, the provision from the government has given great security to their daily life requirements during this special period. He also mentioned that after the teachers of his two daughters' schools learned that they lived near Wang Fuk Court, they actively provided psychological assistance to his daughters during their spare time to help the two girls relieve their anxiety. At present, after the Kwong Yau Hose was allowed for residents to enter, they have safely returned home.

A theft occurred recently at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, with three workers involved in reinforcement work arrested for suspected of stealing valuables from a unit. Mr. Chow Yat-ming, the Commissioner of Police, stated that security at Wang Fuk Court will be strengthened, including requiring workers to undergo body searches upon leaving.

Mr. Chow Yat-ming, the Commissioner of Police, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chow stated that the police suspended all reinforcement work at Wang Fuk Court immediately after the theft. Following a review, four new security measures will be introduced. These include increased police patrols, requiring workers to store personal valuables—such as jewelry, watches, and cash—in lockers before heading upstairs, and limiting each worker to carrying no more than HKD $500 in cash on-site (mobile phones are permitted). Additionally, police will first document any visibly valuable items inside the units, and workers will be subject to body searches and metal detector checks upon exit. The reinforcement work is scheduled to resume on Monday (9th).

Mr. Chow Yat-ming, the Commissioner of Police, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chow noted that during previous work periods, police had registered workers' personal information—including ID card numbers and phone numbers—before officers escorted them to their work floors. Workers were also prohibited from carrying backpacks or bags upstairs. He added that only the three arrested workers have been implicated in the case so far, with no involvement of others found. As of 5 p.m. on March 7, police had received approximately 81 related reports, most of which expressed concerns from residents about unit security. Police will follow up on each report to determine whether theft was involved.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chow also stated receiving a report from a resident who suspected credit card theft. He urged residents worried about credit or bank cards left in their units to contact their banks immediately to report the loss and arrange for replacements. When asked whether the incident pointed to possible police negligence, Mr. Chow said an internal review would be conducted. If human error is identified, disciplinary action may follow.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post