The Feelings of the Filipinos in Hong Kong About the Tai Po Fire

2025-11-30 15:48 Last Updated At：12-01 17:54

The Tai Po fire has claimed over a hundred lives of Hong Kong residents, including some diligent foreign domestic helpers. Up to now, the fire has claimed the lives of seven foreign domestic helpers. A Filipino woman who came to lay flowers and express her condolences at the fire site said that her friend, unfortunately, died in this disaster and left behind a 10-year-old son. The boy firmly told her that he would like to become a firefighter when he grows up.

On the afternoon of November 30th, people continuously came to lay flowers at the open spaces near Wang Fuk Court. Edna Libo-on, a Filipino, and her friends were among the stream of people. She said that since she had to work on weekdays, she could only come to lay flowers on Sunday.

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Many people came to the fire site and expressed their condolences. Photo by Bastille Post

Edna Libo-on, Photo by Bastille Post

Many foreigners also came to the fire site to express their condolences. Photo by Bastille Post

The stalls at the site, Photo by Bastille Post

The firefighter in the rescue, Photo by Bastille Post

The encouraging words for the firefighters, Photo by Bastille Post

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Many people came to the fire site and expressed their condolences. Photo by Bastille Post

Edna Libo-on, Photo by Bastille Post

Many foreigners also came to the fire site to express their condolences. Photo by Bastille Post

The stalls at the site, Photo by Bastille Post

The firefighter in the rescue, Photo by Bastille Post

The encouraging words for the firefighters, Photo by Bastille Post

She mentioned that she knew one of her friends had unfortunately passed away in the fire, leaving behind a ten-year-old son. She once got in touch with the boy. When asked about his future aspirations, he firmly expressed his hope to become a firefighter.

When Edna, who is also the chairperson of One Visayas, talked about the support from the Hong Kong society, she was grateful for the government's support for the Filipinos in Hong Kong and was deeply moved by seeing many Hong Kong citizens voluntarily come to the fire site to lay flowers and express their condolences. She said, "At such a moment, the power of praying for blessings truly transcends material assistance. Of course, in this disaster, the homes and properties destroyed by the fire are irreplaceable, but staying alive would be the most important."

She also emphasized, "When the disaster occurred, we felt the generosity of the Hong Kong people, especially in terms of economic assistance." She was grateful for the assistance from the Hong Kong government for the Filipinos in Hong Kong, which has let them feel the warmth of timely care and help at such a tough time. After expressing her condolences, she planned to stay at the site and sought some volunteer work.

Among the crowd of people who came to lay flowers, there were a number of foreigners. At the site of the fire, some stalls were set up for the registration of the foreign domestic helpers suspected of being missing.

The firefighters who spared no effort in the rescue not only have earned people's respect, but also received encouraging words from many people.

Loss and Salvation Coexist in the Fire: Though Homes Are Reduced to Ashes, Hope of New Life Still Lives On for Wang Fuk Residents

Today (May 4) marked the final day of the first round for Wang Fuk residents to go upstairs and retrieve their belongings.

Ms. Au, a resident of Wang Tai House, said she had been informed that most of her belongings had been destroyed in the fire, so she did not feel panicked or anxious about going in. "But once we got inside, the unit was such a mess that we didn't even know where to start," she recalled. "We spent three hours just walking around, unsure where to begin looking." She had hoped to find her wedding ring, but it was nowhere to be found.

Even though she knew her home had been burned to ashes, seeing the once-familiar park and lobby transformed into something unrecognizable was still heartbreaking. She described feeling as though she was stepping into a place she had never been before.

For Ms. Au, her unit was more than just a home. It was the first place she and her husband lived after getting married, and the place where their three children were born and raised. Over 11 years, they built their lives from scratch there, making every corner of the unit deeply meaningful.

She added that her children had hoped to find keepsakes left to them by relatives who had passed away. "Their great-grandmother gave a baby trike, but when we found it, only the metal frame remained." Ms. Au and her family planned to return to the unit in the future, not just to search for more belongings, but also to say a proper goodbye. She shared that her children have been expressing their grief through drawing and other means of creation these days. With the assistance of social workers and psychologists, she and her husband are gently guiding their children to accept that their home disappeared overnight.

Near the mailboxes in the building's lobby, Ms. Au placed flowers, food, and drinks to mourn the neighbors who lost their lives in the tragedy. She said the government's requirement for residents to choose a resettlement solution by the end of August had put immense pressure on her and created significant difficulties. For now, she said, she could only "take it one step at a time." She hoped to learn the cause of the fire and understand why the building had been so severely damaged, so that such a tragedy could be prevented in the future. She also hoped that meetings could be held for residents to voice their wishes and receive clear explanations about the next steps.

Another resident, Mr. Mak, who is over 70 years old, moved into Wang Shing House in 1983. As a designer by trade, he designed all the furniture in his home himself. Today, he retrieved seven loads of furniture from his unit. "Nevertheless, I couldn't take any of the large pieces — the sofas, tables, and chairs were all made of Thai rosewood," he said. Mr. Mak said his home was in relatively good condition, just a little dusty. "I was worried for days, but thankfully nothing was missing." Although he managed to take back his cash and some jewelry, he forgot to collect his paintings this time. "I'll see if I get a chance to return in the coming days," he said.

Mr. Mak hoped the government could arrange for some unfurnished apartments with basic renovations for their resettlement. "I'm worried about running into dishonest renovation workers," he explained. "I don't mind paying. I just want the government to handle the simple renovations. We're already over 70, and the younger generation has to work. We no longer have the energy to deal with these things." His voice choked with emotion as he thanked the many kind people who had helped him since the fire. However, he added, "The contractors and consultants have been very problematic. The government departments shirked their responsibilities at the hearings and ignored the issues that needed fixing. That's deeply unsatisfactory."

Ms. Chong, who lives in Wang Tai House, said her home was in relatively good condition. Many police officers helped her carry her belongings, making the process less tiring. As a painting enthusiast for over a decade, she brought more than 30 paintings out of her home, each with its own meaning. "They mainly show scenery from my travels," she said. Her favorite is a landscape of Vienna, though she couldn't show it to reporters right away, as it would have to be retrieved later. She revealed that she is now working on a painting of Wang Fuk Court as a keepsake to remember the fire.

The Feelings of the Filipinos in Hong Kong About the Tai Po Fire

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