Loss and Salvation Coexist in the Fire: Though Homes Are Reduced to Ashes, Hope of New Life Still Lives On for Wang Fuk Residents

Today (May 4) marked the final day of the first round for Wang Fuk residents to go upstairs and retrieve their belongings.

Ms. Au, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Au, a resident of Wang Tai House, said she had been informed that most of her belongings had been destroyed in the fire, so she did not feel panicked or anxious about going in. "But once we got inside, the unit was such a mess that we didn't even know where to start," she recalled. "We spent three hours just walking around, unsure where to begin looking." She had hoped to find her wedding ring, but it was nowhere to be found.

The inner condition of Ms. Au's unit, Photo by Bastille Post

Even though she knew her home had been burned to ashes, seeing the once-familiar park and lobby transformed into something unrecognizable was still heartbreaking. She described feeling as though she was stepping into a place she had never been before.

The inner condition of Ms. Au's unit, Photo by Bastille Post

For Ms. Au, her unit was more than just a home. It was the first place she and her husband lived after getting married, and the place where their three children were born and raised. Over 11 years, they built their lives from scratch there, making every corner of the unit deeply meaningful.

She added that her children had hoped to find keepsakes left to them by relatives who had passed away. "Their great-grandmother gave a baby trike, but when we found it, only the metal frame remained." Ms. Au and her family planned to return to the unit in the future, not just to search for more belongings, but also to say a proper goodbye. She shared that her children have been expressing their grief through drawing and other means of creation these days. With the assistance of social workers and psychologists, she and her husband are gently guiding their children to accept that their home disappeared overnight.

The safe retrieved by Ms. Au from her unit, Photo by Bastille Post

Near the mailboxes in the building's lobby, Ms. Au placed flowers, food, and drinks to mourn the neighbors who lost their lives in the tragedy. She said the government's requirement for residents to choose a resettlement solution by the end of August had put immense pressure on her and created significant difficulties. For now, she said, she could only "take it one step at a time." She hoped to learn the cause of the fire and understand why the building had been so severely damaged, so that such a tragedy could be prevented in the future. She also hoped that meetings could be held for residents to voice their wishes and receive clear explanations about the next steps.

Mr. Mak, Photo by Bastille Post

Another resident, Mr. Mak, who is over 70 years old, moved into Wang Shing House in 1983. As a designer by trade, he designed all the furniture in his home himself. Today, he retrieved seven loads of furniture from his unit. "Nevertheless, I couldn't take any of the large pieces — the sofas, tables, and chairs were all made of Thai rosewood," he said. Mr. Mak said his home was in relatively good condition, just a little dusty. "I was worried for days, but thankfully nothing was missing." Although he managed to take back his cash and some jewelry, he forgot to collect his paintings this time. "I'll see if I get a chance to return in the coming days," he said.

Mr. Mak retrieved seven loads of furniture from his unit. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Mak hoped the government could arrange for some unfurnished apartments with basic renovations for their resettlement. "I'm worried about running into dishonest renovation workers," he explained. "I don't mind paying. I just want the government to handle the simple renovations. We're already over 70, and the younger generation has to work. We no longer have the energy to deal with these things." His voice choked with emotion as he thanked the many kind people who had helped him since the fire. However, he added, "The contractors and consultants have been very problematic. The government departments shirked their responsibilities at the hearings and ignored the issues that needed fixing. That's deeply unsatisfactory."

Ms. Chong, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Chong, who lives in Wang Tai House, said her home was in relatively good condition. Many police officers helped her carry her belongings, making the process less tiring. As a painting enthusiast for over a decade, she brought more than 30 paintings out of her home, each with its own meaning. "They mainly show scenery from my travels," she said. Her favorite is a landscape of Vienna, though she couldn't show it to reporters right away, as it would have to be retrieved later. She revealed that she is now working on a painting of Wang Fuk Court as a keepsake to remember the fire.

Ms. Chong brought more than 30 paintings out of her home, each with its own meaning. Photo by Bastille Post

Today (May 4) marked the final day of the first round for Wang Fuk residents to go upstairs and retrieve their belongings. Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post

Seven fire-affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court will be open to residents again for the retrieval of belongings from May 21 to 29. The first batch of residents to return is from Wang Tai House, Wang Sun House, and Wang Yan House. Each unit may be accessed by up to four residents, who may stay inside for up to three hours, with no restrictions on the number of entries and exits.

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Ho, a Wang Tai resident who has lived there since 1985, said she had already retrieved most of her belongings earlier. This time, she wanted to go through every corner carefully. "Since I have lived in Wang Fuk Court for so many years, I have a deep affection for every part of this place," she said. Despite the heavy rainfall today, she continued her retrieval as scheduled. "I want to take a second, careful look at my home."

Ms. Ho, Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Wan, who has also lived in Wang Yan House since 1985, said his greatest wish this time was to retrieve a photo taken more than a decade ago - a picture of his father holding him in their family shop. He grew up in that store and treasures the memory. Mr. Wan revealed that during the previous retrieval, most of his home remained intact, and he had already recovered gold jewelry and the house deed. "I'd be satisfied just to get back a stack of photos this time," he said. Mr. Wan is currently living in government-provided transitional housing, though he believes the living environment needs improvement: "It's hard to cook, the bathroom is tiny, and when it poured yesterday, water leaked right through the ceiling."

Mr. Wan, Photo by Bastille Post

Mrs. Kwok, who lives on a lower floor of Wang Tai House, returned to her old home to retrieve her belongings. She packed up an undamaged umbrella — not particularly valuable, she admitted, but "better than nothing." She also recovered some small souvenirs and her son's Octopus card. Describing her mixed emotions, she said she was grateful to see her old neighbors again, yet could not hide her sadness in the face of the disaster. Choking back tears during the interview, she said, "I'm so grateful that so many people have come to help us. I'm very happy that I can come up again today and retrace the memories of the past." She added that she had known the family in unit 802 for many years and had watched their children grow up. She revealed that the neighbor's father had died in the fire and that many of the neighbors she knew also lost their lives. Mrs. Kwok said she is currently staying in Kai Tak, while her husband is temporarily living at their son's home.

Mrs. Kwok, Photo by Bastille Post

Wang Fuk Court, Photo by Bastille Post

Seven fire-affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court will be open to residents again for the retrieval of belongings from May 21 to 29. Photo by Bastille Post