About 1,800 citizens gathered at Kwong Fuk Sitting-out Area on Sunday to write their tributes, lay flowers in memory of the victims of the devastating inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.
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At around 3pm, the queue of mourners extended from the sitting-out area along the Tai Po River footpath, winding to the Lam Tsuen River footpath, with the end of the line reaching Kwong Fuk Bridge Garden — with more people arriving to join continually.
Flowers were arranged not only in the pavilion but also filled a nearby open area, forming two large circles. A multitude of fresh flowers adored the ground, alongside plush toys, fruits, snacks and beverages as offerings.
Some mourners even placed white flower wreaths marked with “Pain. From Hongkongers”, and the queue included many foreign domestic helpers.
Kelly, a resident of Tai Po, arrived with her friend Lai. She said that she passes by the area every day, and was shocked to learn about the fire and its severe devastation on the news.
“On my way home, the roads were all blocked. By 8pm that day, I saw flames engulfing unit after unit – it was terrifying,” she recalled.
Knowing that some of her friends had lost family members and others were still in intensive care, she felt it was important to come and pay her respects.
“Why has it come to this in Hong Kong? We’ve heard so many issues during the renovation, yet no one seemed to care. Now a tragedy has struck, and it feels like nothing is being resolved,” she said.
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Lai, who traveled from Chai Wan, struggled to hold back tears. “I hope the departed souls rest in peace, while the living find the strength to carry on. We all feel so heartbroken — Hong Kong as a whole is mourning, so we must support one another and not dwell too much on it,”
She added that every resident is dealing with a sudden calamity, “Regardless of whether their family were among the casualties, everyone has lost their homes. It’s heartbreaking that a place they lived for so long has changed so drastically — what will they do now?”
Leonora Guno, a Filipino domestic helper, expressed her sorrow upon hearing that a fellow working there had passed away. “It’s so hard to hear that”, she said, hoping that the government can provide assistance to the victim’s family back in the Philippines.
Ning, a secondary school student, decided to visit and pay tribute with her friends during the weekend. Studying in a primary school in Tai Po, she often passed by Wang Fuk Court in the past.
“It’ s devastating to see so many lives lost. Thankfully, an old classmate who lived there managed to escape. I hope for the departed to rest in peace and the living to find safety,” she said, adding that she will contribute whatever she can.
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Cheung shared her experience of witnessing the fire and immediately contacted her friends to help them escape.
“I saw the fire at 2:10pm, and called to tell them leave right away, telling them not to grab anything but a few pieces of clothes and important documents. After that, I could not reach them,” she recalled the fear she felt, continuing to call until she finally got through around 6pm.
“Fortunately, all four friends living in Blocks C, D and E were safe. Some said they had nothing but their wallets and glasses. Others only managed to put on slippers — nothing else, and they lost their homes,” she said.
Cheung added that her daughter’s colleague’s parents couldn’t make it out in the fire, a couple who were found embracing, unrecognizable. “What a tragic loss,” she said.
“Seeing a site like this leaves me unsettled and deeply saddened. Of course, I want it to be demolished and rebuilt so at least they can have a home again,” she said.
As the queue of mourners continued to extend nearly two kilometers long, Hong Kong Police urged members of the public to pay attention to safety at night and follow the instructions of officers as they proceed to Kwong Fuk Sitting-out Area.
Given the long waiting time, the police suggested that those wishing to pay their respects might consider visiting the condolence points set up by the Home Affairs Department.
The condolence point in Tai Po is located at the Multi-purpose Hall of Fu Heng Neighbourhood Community Centre in Fu Heng Estate, which will be open until 9pm.
