The Funeral with Full Honours for the Sacrificed Fireman Ho Wai-ho in the Tai Po Fire

On December 19, an official funeral with full honours was held by the Fire Services Department (FSD) for the sacrificed fireman, Mr. Ho Wai-ho, in the Tai Po fire. 

An official funeral with full honours was held by the Fire Services Department (FSD) for the sacrificed fireman, Mr. Ho Wai-ho, in the Tai Po fire. Photo by Bastille Post

The official ceremony was first held at the Universal Funeral Parlour in Hung Hom. Near the parlour, a condolence area was set up for members of the public to pay their respects in memory of Mr. Ho from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. At the site, many citizens have laid flowers to pay their respects to the heroic sacrifice of Mr. Ho. Some even couldn't hold back their tears after laying flowers. In their eyes, Mr. Ho's dedication to saving others, even at the cost of his own life in the fire, has left an indelible mark on the community.

The Universal Funeral Parlour, Photo by Bastille Post

The condolence area set up for members of the public to pay their respects in memory of Mr. Ho, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chung, one of the mourners placing flowers, said that Hong Kong had lost a very great person. He hoped Mr Ho Wai-ho would know that the people of Hong Kong would never forget him as a brave hero. As for Mr. Yiu, another citizen came to the condolence area to grieve for Mr. Ho, he believed that December 19 would be a heart-wrenching day for all Hong Kong people, as they had lost such an outstanding fireman.

Mr. Chung, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Yiu, Photo by Bastille Post

At 10:00 a.m., the funeral, attended by government officials, community dignitaries, and FSD colleagues, was held. Mr. John Lee, the Chief Executive, Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the former Chief Executive, Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, the Financial Secretary and other related personnel have attended.

Mr. John Lee, Photo by Bastille Post

Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Paul Chan, Photo by Bastille Post

The hearse, carrying the coffin of Mr. Ho, left the funeral parlour at 10:30 a.m. after the official ceremony. Mr. John Lee led government officials and firemen to line up outside the parlour to pay their final tribute to Mr. Ho.

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Passing through Tai Wo Road, Po Heung Street, Kwong Fuk Road, Tai Po Road - Yuen Chau Tsai, the hearse arrived at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po at about 11:00 a.m. An on-site ceremony was held by FSD colleagues and local dignitaries. Meanwhile, many nearby residents have come spontaneously to bid farewell to Mr. Ho.

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Lau, a resident living near Wang Fuk Court, came together with her son to grieve for Mr. Ho. Her son said that after the Tai Po fire, he regarded firemen as very great people. As for Ms. Lau, she expressed her gratefulness to Mr. Ho, saying that she would always remember him and truly felt that he was a hero to the people of Hong Kong.

Ms. Lau, Photo by Bastille Post

Driving away from Wang Fuk Court, the hearse proceeded to Sha Tin Fire Station, where Mr. Ho was stationed before his sacrifice, via Tai Po Road, Sha Tin Rural Committee Road and Yuen Wo Road and arrived at around 11: 30 a.m. There, Mr. Andy Yeung, the Director of Fire Services, led a group of firemen to line up outside the fire station to pay their final respects to Mr. Ho.

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Outside the fire station, many residents also gathered to bid farewell to Mr. Ho. Among them, Ms. Chan, whose son had also attended the rescue of the Tai Po fire, expressed her grief for the loss of Mr. Ho. She said that, during the rescue period, her son had lost over 30 pounds since he had to carry corpses and control his own emotions simultaneously. In her eyes, firemen had indeed put so much effort into helping Hong Kong people overcome the difficulties of the fire. She hoped that, in the future, some professionals could provide emotional support to the firemen who were once on the front line of rescue and help them to heal from the suffering. "My son told me that he finally realized the meaning of death after attending the fire rescue." Ms. Chan said.

Many residents also gathered to bid farewell to Mr. Ho outside the fire station, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Chan, Photo by Bastille Post

Finally, the hearse arrived at Gallant Garden at Wo Hop Shek Cemetery for the burial of Mr. Ho's coffin by 1:00 p.m. On the site, his fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice and hoped he could rest in peace at Gallant Garden.

Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Mr. Ho's fellow firemen, families, fiancée, and even his pet dog, all paid homage to his sacrifice. Photo source: Screenshot of the live stream of FSD

Residents from seven fire-affected blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po can return in phases from today until May 4th to retrieve their belongings. This morning, Mr. Cheuk Wing Hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, along with Mr. Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Tang Ping Keung, Secretary for Security, Ms. Winnie Ho, Secretary for Housing, and Miss Alice Mak, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, inspected the site and visited Kwong Fuk Community Hall to review the registration centre and supply collection process. They then proceeded to Wang Sun House to assess staffing and response arrangements, and checked the joint command centre and the general information centre. Mr. Cheuk Wing Hing said all personnel on site are ready and in position.

Mr. Cheuk Wing Hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Photo by Bastille Post

Today, 78 households from Wang Sun House, totalling 269 residents, registered to go upstairs to collect their belongings. Mr. Cheuk stressed that arranging for residents of the seven blocks to go upstairs required extensive preparation and manpower. More than 1,000 staff were deployed today, including 500 from the Police Force, Civil Aid Service, Fire Services Department, and Auxiliary Medical Service; 260 from the Home Affairs Department (including members from Care Teams); 150 from the Social Welfare Department; around 40 from Housing Department and Housing Bureau; and dozens of other departmental colleagues.

To ensure residents' safety and protect their belongings while entering and exiting the fire-affected buildings, the government has conducted several measures: residents are provided with helmets, masks, gloves, and other protective gear, and are accompanied by the Police Force or Civil Aid Service personnel when entering and leaving their units. The police officers are also stationed in the ground-floor lobbies of each building to prevent unauthorised entry. Furthermore, police officers are present on all accessible floors to guide residents and prevent them from wandering into unsafe areas.

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Cheuk added that if residents feel unwell during their upstairs process, the Police Force and Civil Aid Service personnel will provide immediate assistance. For every ten floors opened, four dedicated teams, including social workers from Social Welfare Department and clinical psychologists, will be deployed to support residents in need. The Fire Services Department and Auxiliary Medical Service personnel will also stay on-site to offer emergency and medical services. Residents who remain distressed or unwell after leaving the building can reach out to social workers for psychological counselling.

Photo by Bastille Post

He noted that since announcing the upstairs belongings collection arrangements at the end of March, the government has been considering how to meet residents' needs better and has made several adjustments to facilitate access: If circumstances and order permit, residents may be allowed to return to their units more than once within three hours; to help residents carry their belongings more easily, pick-up points for free shuttle buses and taxis have been moved inside the police cordon and positioned as close as possible to the building position to reduce walking distances; and, considering that residents may stay inside the building for several hours and need restroom access, Housing Bureau has added temporary non-flush toilets in electrical meter rooms on every other floor; cleaning staff will replace the waste bags when full, sparing elderly and other residents the strain of repeatedly climbing stairs.

Residents are provided with helmets, masks, gloves, and other protective gear, and are accompanied by the Police Force or Civil Aid Service personnel when entering and leaving their units. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Cheuk further pointed out that recent hot and rainy weather could lead to a rise in mosquito activity. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has conducted mosquito prevention work in each building before residents go upstairs. He urged residents to stay aware of their surroundings and their own health conditions while going upstairs to ensure safety. In addition, Mr. Cheuk said he has recently received feedback from residents that some reporters have contacted them requesting to accompany them upstairs. He understood that for many residents, retrieving belongings or saying goodbye to their units is a private and emotional matter, and they wish to do so quietly. He therefore appealed to reporters not to seek permission to go upstairs for interviews, adding that the government would not approve such requests.

Mr. Tang Ping Keung, Secretary for Security, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Tang Ping Keung also said the Police Force or Civil Aid Service personnel will be stationed on each floor to provide immediate assistance, including handling residents’ unwell problems, as these colleagues have taken professional training. Auxiliary Medical Service personnel are also on-site to offer further medical help if needed.

Mr. Tang also noted that Fire Services Department personnel, including ambulancemen, are stationed on-site, and the government has positioned several ambulances ready to transport residents to the hospital if necessary. Regarding residents in need of assistance, he expressed confidence that the Police Force or Civil Aid Service personnel would respond in a humanized approach and do their utmost to help anyone they see requiring support.

Mr. Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chris Sun said today’s arrangements are primarily designed to help residents with their belongings collection. Each household may send up to four people upstairs, which may be limited depending on the condition of the unit. He pointed out that, as previously explained, as long as the homeowner registers, a social worker will assist each household with the registration process, which means that, in addition to family members and friends, if social workers are needed, they can also be arranged through the registration system.

Mr. Sun further emphasized that the top priority today is to ensure a smooth process, allowing residents to return to their units, collect belongings, and then safely return to their current homes. He reassured residents that social workers will listen to their opinions, and if there is a need to include non-family social workers as helpers within the four-person limit, the government will assist as much as possible.

The personnel are assisting residents in moving their belongings on site. Photo by Bastille Post

The personnel are assisting residents in entering the building. Photo by Bastille Post

The personnel are assisting residents in moving their belongings on site. Photo by Bastille Post

Some residents have collected their belongings and are ready to leave. Photo by Bastille Post

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post