Amid shared tears, an Indonesian domestic helper lost in the deadly Tai Po fire started her final journey home—the first Indonesian victim to be returned to the family since the blaze last month.
A solemn farewell was held at the Ammar Mosque and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, organized by the non-profit Forget Thee Not (FTN).
The deceased's sister, who also works in Hong Kong, attended in person, while other family members joined via video call from Indonesia.
During the service, the family of the employer—who also lost their mother in the fire—joined in mourning and expressed their concern for the needs of the bereaved family.
Fan Ning, chairman of FTN, stated that the employer regarded the deceased as a family member, describing her as kind, brave, and dedicated.
“The loss of a domestic helper often coincides with the loss of a local family member, making it part of the entire household's mourning process," Fan noted.
Following the funeral prayers, Fan reported that the helper's remains would be transported to the airport for her repatriation to Jakarta, Indonesia.
According to the Indonesian consulate, the late domestic helper is the first Indonesian victim who will be returning home.
“It is a challenging journey to bring the victim back home, where a lot of procedures and documents are involved," said Fan.
He expressed gratitude for the flexible assistance from various government departments and organizations, including the Red Cross, which will escort the body to her waiting family.
Separately, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) confirmed on social media that Maryan Pascual Esteban, a 39-year-old Filipino domestic helper who also perished in the blaze, has returned to the country.
Her remains were received by officials, including Filipino Secretary for Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac, OWWA Administrator PY Caunan, and House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chairperson Bryan Revilla, who ensured immediate assistance for Esteban’s family.
