Home Intact but Haunted by Trauma: Wang Kin House Residents Seek Relocation to Move Forward

Ms. Wong, who has lived in Wang Kin House for over 20 years, completed belongings retrieval and told reporters that her unit was in good condition, but she still felt unhappy about returning. "I've lived here for so many years, but I still have to leave my beloved home," she said. Now residing temporarily in Kowloon City, she plans to find another place to live in Kai Tak or Tai Po. "I don't want to stay in Wang Fuk Court any longer, since I'm a little scared. If there can be another place to choose in the future, I want to look forward," she added.

Ms. Wong, Photo by Bastille Post

She went upstairs for retrieval once, saying three hours was enough. There were no signs of theft or cigarette butts inside, but she did find a lot of rat droppings. She took away the porcelain figurines left by her father, property deeds, documents, money, and jewellery. "I took everything I wanted," she said, adding that she did not plan to go back upstairs.

Ms. So, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. So, who had lived on the 9th floor of Wang Kin House with her youngest son for over 40 years, also said she did not want to return to Wang Fuk Court. She admitted that after five months, she had grown somewhat numb to the experience of returning and would not want to come back anymore. In her view, it's hard to live here any longer. "It's a huge shadow for me," she said.

She hopes to exchange her Wang Fuk unit for a new one. "I want to find a place to live as soon as possible, whichever area can be ready first. I don't want to wait too long."

Ms. To,, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. To, who has lived on the 5th floor of Wang Kin House for seven years, also found her unit undamaged, aside from some dust in the kitchen. "The unit is complete and very clean. I don't even need to wear gloves for retrieval," she said. She expressed joy at being able to retrieve all her cherished belongings, including her daughter's photos, money, and rings, etc.

She revealed that the unit was bought when her daughter got married. "We're still paying off the mortgage, on a unit we can no longer live in." Looking forward to the future, she said she would be satisfied if she could be allocated an ideal replacement unit. "The sad times are over, and I hope to look forward."

She also praised government staff for their helpfulness, saying their assistance deeply touched her. "The social workers and Civil Aid Service were very proactive in helping me. I didn't have to carry anything; they just helped me with everything."

Government staff have provided much assistance to Wang Fuk residents. Photo by Bastille Post

Residents of Wang Tai House and Wang Kin House went upstairs in batches to retrieve their belongings.

Mr. Liu, a resident who has lived in Wang Fuk Court for more than 40 years, said that from photos provided by the police, he could see that his door had been burned black and the shoe cabinet at the entrance was charred. He described damage was extremely severe since the entrance of his unit was directly opposite a ventilation point.

Mr. Liu, Photo by Bastille Post

He also mentioned that he felt truly devastated these days. "I've lived here for over 40 years. I was among the first batch of residents who moved into Wang Fuk Court in 1983 and have lived there ever since. Watching Wang Fuk Court being burnt into ashes after the fire, I'm truly heartbroken. I saw this place rise from nothing. I still remember when I first moved in; there was no market yet. The only shops were those with tin roofs downstairs. It took many years before the market was finally built. And now, everything is gone, which is distressing to me," he said. He prepared a number of bags for packing belongings today, and he hoped he could find some important items in the unit.

Mr. Lam, Photo by Bastille Post

Some residents said the most important thing was that they had survived after the disaster. Mr. Lam, who lives in Wang Kin House, recalled that the unit was filled with thick black smoke during the fire. The entrance of his unit became impassable due to the intense heat and flames, forcing him to eventually escape through a window. "Fortunately, someone downstairs was there to help or provide shelter, which saved my life," he said. He admitted that his unit had been virtually burned to the ground and all his belongings were lost, but considered himself fortunate to have survived. "The important thing is that I'm still safe and sound." he added.

He pointed out he was still disoriented and "hadn't thought about what to do next." For now, he could only follow the government's emergency arrangements.

Ms. Cheung, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Cheung, also from Wang Kin House, said that since her unit is on a lower floor, going upstairs was not too difficult. Her unit is lived in by her family. She came back today to retrieve the property deed, marriage certificate, and other important items. As for the returning process, social workers and other staff have helped her.

Wang Fuk residents went upstairs to retrieve their belongs in batches. Photo by Bastille Post

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post