"Just One Last Look at the View": Wang Fuk Resident Bids Final Farewell to Her Home

Ms. Chan and her sister, residents of the 15th floor of Wang Cheong House, came together with their parents to retrieve their belongings today. Their father had bought the unit before he was married, where two sisters grew up and moved out after getting married. "I really miss Tai Po since I just grew up here," she said.

Ms. Chan, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Chan said the damage to her unit wasn't serious, but three hours wasn't enough for her to collect her belongings. "Once I stepped inside, I just wanted to look around and forgot what I came to pack," she admitted. She ended up grabbing whatever she saw and tossing it into bags. As for her father's audio equipment, she'd only moved half of it since the speakers were too heavy to carry down this time.

The interior condition of her unit, Photo source: Offered by Ms. Chan

What she missed most were the framed photos. "I know they can be reprinted, but they held so much sentimental value," she said. From inside the unit, she looked out the window and saw her husband picking up their son from school. They waved to each other as a final farewell to her previous home.

The interior condition of her unit, Photo source: Offered by Ms. Chan

Ms. Chan said she would go upstairs again whenever possible to "retrieve the remaining photos."

Mr. Tse, who went to Wang Yan House to retrieve belongings, said he was a friend of the homeowner and had been asked to collect items on his behalf. He brought his own handcart and even passed some belongings to neighbors. He called the process a "race against time" — balancing stamina, the sheer volume of items, and the time left. "You have to keep asking yourself: can I even get this thing downstairs?" he said.

Mr. Tse, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Tse pointed out that three hours were "very tense" in the debris-filled environment. Without a companion to help, collecting items as desired would have been nearly impossible.

The handcart Mr. Tse brought with him today, Photo by Bastille Post

The reporter observed several support service stations at Kwong Fuk Market offering follow-up assistance to residents, including emotional support booths, a courier service area, and a temporary storage zone. Several mini-storage companies were also on-site, providing free rental and transport services.

Photo by Bastille Post

In a corner of the market corridor, rows of plastic-wrapped suitcases and carts stood neatly arranged, waiting for residents to collect them.

Photo by Bastille Post