Wang Fuk Residents Return Home in Batches Again, Retrieving Pieces of Their Past

2026-05-13 18:06 Last Updated At：18:07

The government has arranged for residents of Wang Chi House, who were not directly affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court, to return to their units in batches again over five days, starting this Wednesday (May 13). Each allocated unit may be entered by up to four people at a time, with each visit lasting up to three hours. During this period, residents are allowed to go up and down the building multiple times.

Mr. Lam, who has lived in Wang Chi House for over 30 years, said his parents are too elderly to go upstairs, so he brought a large suitcase to pack their belongings. "This time, I've retrieved things that hold sentimental value, like photo albums. To be honest, I'm not sure when I'll be able to come back again in the coming days to retrieve more." He said he has felt quite depressed these days, after all, he had lived here for many years, and many of his neighbors have already left after the fire. His parents didn't express any particular thoughts; they just wanted to go home. Mr. Lam said he would livestream to his parents while packing upstairs and ask them if they needed anything.

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The government has arranged for residents of Wang Chi House, who were not directly affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court, to return to their units in batches again over five days, starting this Wednesday (May 13). Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Lam, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Lam, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

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The government has arranged for residents of Wang Chi House, who were not directly affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court, to return to their units in batches again over five days, starting this Wednesday (May 13). Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Mr. Lam, Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Lam, Photo by Bastille Post

Photo by Bastille Post

Ms. Lam, who lives on the sixth floor of Wang Chi House, said she hurried to retrieve her work-related awards this time. "As a driver, I've collected many safety awards and service awards. All the awards I could achieve in 26 years have been obtained." She had hoped to take everything from her home that she had accumulated over decades, but couldn't finish. "The new appliances from the renovation hold so many memories. I wanted to take the furniture too." She said if given another chance, she would hire a moving company to assist her.

Ms. Lam said she hopes that all Wang Fuk residents can soon be arranged with a new place to settle in, as they are currently living in interim housing. "Since the government has the plan, it would be best to arrange it quickly," she said. As a retiree, she had once hoped to enjoy her retirement life in the renovated unit; however, the fire took that wish away. She now has to rebuild her life for the future. When asked about the retrieval arrangement, Ms. Lam said the government has done well, with social workers, police, and volunteers all willing to lend a hand.

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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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, 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.

Wang Fuk Residents Return Home in Batches Again, Retrieving Pieces of Their Past

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