Second-Day Stories: Wang Fuk Court Residents Return Upstairs to Retrieve Belongings

Today is the second day for residents of Wang Sun House in Wang Fuk Court to return upstairs to retrieve belongings. Yesterday, 77 households with a total of 264 people completed the retrieval process.

Residents returned to Wang Sun House to collect their belongings. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Resident Ah-Keung, said he moved into the unit of Wang Sun House six years ago after marrying his wife. He hoped to retrieve their wedding photos, his wife's dragon-and-phoenix bracelets, and other dowry items. In his view, he was not worried about theft, since his wife's dragon-and-phoenix bracelets were hidden quite well, so well that even he might have forgotten where he put them. He added that he believed there should be enough time, as his unit was merely on the 11th floor and he exercised regularly, so climbing the stairs should not be a problem.

Ah-Keung, Photo by Bastille Post

Ah-Keung also mentioned that his family has divided the tasks: two people would tidy the living room, and two would handle the other rooms. As for today's return, he hoped to see his neighbours if possible, as it was a neighbour who knocked on his door and rescued his wife on the day of the fire. He also thanked Po Leung Kuk and other organisations for their donations, saying that if he could not use up all the funds, he would donate the remainder.

The current state of Ah-keung's unit after the fire. Photo source: shot by Ah-keung

The current state of Ah-keung's unit after the fire. Photo source: shot by Ah-keung

The current state of Ah-keung's unit after the fire. Photo source: shot by Ah-keung

Mr. Cheung, who accompanied his grandmother to collect belongings today, said he brought a camera to photograph the present interior condition of his unit. In his opinion, today's return might be his last chance to enter the burned unit, so he wanted to record this special moment. He noted that he had not received photos from social workers before, as they believed the condition of his burned unit was not serious. He also felt that the time allotted by the government was simply insufficient; according to him, just sorting through the belongings would likely take a full day.

Mr. Cheung, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Or, who lived on the 18th floor of Wang Sun House, arrived early with his family to collect their belongings. Due to his mobility issues, he explained that he could only slowly climb the stairs with the aid of a cane. His main goal was to retrieve some sentimental and valuable items. Returning home to collect these possessions had always been his wish these days, and he had been waiting for this day for a long time, so he was not afraid of the hardship. He said he would try to face whatever scene he might encounter with a calm mind.

Mr. Or, Photo by Bastille Post

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post

Residents of Wang Sun House in Wang Fuk Court started returning to their fire-damaged units today to retrieve their possessions, with many feeling anxious as the true scale of the destruction remains unclear.

Mr. Chung, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Chung, who lives on a lower floor of Wang Sun House, said his family members had already left with a truck after collecting their belongings. Today, he focused on retrieving items such as a laptop, photos of his son, some paintings, and other valuables. Clothes of little worth were left behind for now.

He admitted he feels lost about his future life. "I took my things, but I don't know where to put them," he said. His own unit was fortunate not to have been severely burned, allowing him to pack up relatively quickly and retrieve everything he needed. He noted that some other units were almost destroyed by fire, and their residents would need much more time to collect their belongings.

Wang Sun House, Photo by Bastille Post

Describing the conditions inside the building, Mr. Chung said that although blackened, the stairwell was in better shape than he had expected. The windows had been burned out, but ventilation remained good. He praised the on-site personnel as very enthusiastic and helpful. Inside his unit, he saw only a few bugs, and everything else was relatively intact. The smell was not overwhelming, though it felt extremely hot.

Looking ahead, Mr. Chung expressed deep sadness over resettlement. With property prices now soaring, he doubts whether he can afford a new home. His current unit is over 400 square feet, but he fears he may have to move into one of just over 300 square feet. He hoped the government could offer more help in the future. "The compensation may only cover the house itself; there's no money left for renovations," he said. Even if he changes homes, it would be difficult for him to start a new life if he cannot afford the cost of interior decoration. He hoped the government or frontline groups could provide renovation allowances or other forms of support.

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post

Another resident, Mr. Ng, said he and one family member were allowed upstairs to collect belongings, accompanied by a social worker. Due to the regulations, only two people are allowed to enter the unit at a time. With pre-registration, they put on protective gear before going upstairs to their burned household. From photos that had been sent to him earlier, Mr. Ng said the walkway leading to his home was blackened, and both the floor and ceiling had been severely burned. However, due to the layout of the unit, the kitchen and living room are not visible from the entrance, so the true scale of the damage inside still remains unclear. His greatest concern is for valuables and items of sentimental value, especially souvenirs he and his wife had collected together over the years. "I hope we can retrieve the valuables," he said.

He revealed that his family had been renting the unit for some time, but after the fire, they had to find a new place to live. Although he was feeling a bit down, he tried to maintain a calm mindset. "I have now adjusted myself," Mr. Ng said. He mentioned that he mainly brought protective gear and plastic bags for going upstairs to collect belongings, estimating that it might take one or two more times for him to retrieve all the things he needed.

As for future resettlement, Mr. Ng had no clear plan yet and could only take things step by step. Though he worried about the risk of burglary in his burnt unit, he acknowledged, "There's no way to control that." For now, his priority is to assess the damage to his unit as quickly as possible and arrange for the safekeeping of valuable belongings.

Residents of Wang Sun House in Wang Fuk Court returned to their fire-damaged units to retrieve their possessions. Photo by Bastille Post

Another resident, Sister Wan, was allowed back to her fifth-floor flat to collect her belongings. She said that while she "wanted to retrieve everything," she had to prioritise small and important items because she would have to climb the stairs and worried that she and her family might not have enough physical strength to carry heavy loads. Having undergone some physical training before, she said she believed the fifth floor would be manageable and that with her family's help, she should be able to cope.

She added that a social worker had previously sent her a photo of her unit, but it was hard to make out the actual interior damage. She was most worried about keepsakes, especially those tied to memories of her husband and son, noting that she would be heartbroken if she couldn't take them all away.

Photo by Bastille Post