Wang Fuk Residents Say Timed Retrieval Is Stressful, Call for Multiple Visits and Better Lighting

Mr. Kong Cheung Fat, the Former Member of the Incorporated Owners of Wang Fuk Court, who lived on a lower floor of Wang Yan House, went upstairs to retrieve his belongings today (April 23). He said his unit was not severely damaged by the fire, with some areas left intact. He was not surprised by the condition of his unit, having anticipated the aftermath of the disaster.

Mr. Kong Cheung Fat, Photo by Bastille Post

However, he described the environment inside as extremely hot and stuffy, since he was also required to wear a helmet and protective gear. He collected only about 10% of the items that needed to be taken. Having lived in his unit for more than 30 years, he has accumulated a large number of belongings and faced the challenge of sorting through them quickly. He hoped to have another opportunity to go upstairs to collect more items in the future. He suggested that some stronger LED lighting could be installed inside the units, as the current illumination was insufficient, leaving many locations difficult to see clearly. Nevertheless, he expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by frontline police officers and other personnel.

The current condition of his unit, Photo source: Offered by Mr. Kong

The current condition of his unit, Photo source: Offered by Mr. Kong

Mr. Kong said his feelings were indescribable and hoped for better post-fire arrangements. For instance, not limiting the retrieval time to just three hours, as that placed too much pressure on residents. When he first entered his unit, he did not know what to collect; many items had fallen to the floor, including a television and some ornaments. He noted that although his unit had not been burned severely, two windows had been removed, which he found strange. He indicated that most of the major items remained, but a thorough inspection was not possible due to the unit's condition. He assumed the possible reason for the windows' opening would be that firefighters had entered before.

Mr. Kong Cheung Fat, Photo by Bastille Post

He hoped the timeframe would be extended to allow residents to conduct a more complete search. He pointed out that even an additional day would still feel extremely tight, and the task would become even more difficult in hotter weather. As for himself, he had already spent more than an hour just descending the stairs.

Photo source: Offered by Mr. Kong

Photo source: Offered by Mr. Kong

Mr. Kong suggested that a more humane approach could be adopted. For example, allowing the residents' belongings to be carried downstairs before being returned to them, rather than requiring them to carry everything down the stairs themselves. He noted that many residents had experienced leg weakness after climbing the stairs, with some even needing to go to the hospital. He said the residents would definitely request more opportunities to go upstairs, so would he. He hoped the government could relocate residents soon and provide sufficient information about future arrangements.

Mr. Yip, a resident of Wang Tai House whose unit was severely damaged in the Tai Po fire, lost his wife in the blaze. According to Mr. Yip, his wife alerted neighbours to escape, saving five lives, but tragically did not survive. He said that when he goes upstairs to retrieve his belongings in the coming days, he will bring a bouquet of flowers in memory of his wife. "I would tell her to leave, not to stay here," he said. He noted there would be no other special memorial ceremony — that he would simply stare blankly at a spot in his unit.

Mr. Yip, Photo by Bastille Post

According to government arrangements, residents of Wang Tai House will not be able to collect their belongings until the middle of next week. Mr. Yip returned to Wang Fuk Court today to prepare, planning to go upstairs tomorrow (April 24) with his two sons and daughter-in-law to retrieve their belongings. His sons live on the 6th floor of Wang Cheong House. They have prepared backpacks and bags.

Some of the Wang Fuk residents returned to their units to retrieve their belongings today. Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Yip said he was worried that three hours would not be enough. He also said he did not want to use the word "farewell," because he hoped to return to his own unit for living in the future. He believed that many units did not appear to be severely damaged, and the government could propose a win-win solution, allowing repairable units to be fixed so that residents could go home.

Residents prepared bags to pack their belongings. Photo by Bastille Post

In addition, Mr. Yip pointed out that the government spent four months and a significant amount of money dismantling scaffolding. He questioned why at least one elevator in each building had not been repaired during that period, so that elderly residents could return home more easily.

Mr. Yip, Photo by Bastille Post