Residents of the only block unaffected by the devastating inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po are briefly returning to their homes on Wednesday to retrieve personal belongings and valuables.
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Each household at Wang Chi House will be allowed a maximum of two individuals to enter their flats for up to 90 minutes from 9am to 9pm on Wednesday and Thursday, but uncertainty remains as to when they can actually move back in.
Ng, who has lived at Wang Chi House for 40 years, was accompanied by a civil servant to fetch some personal belongings. He appreciated the support from the government. He is currently staying in a transitional housing unit at Good House in Tai Po for three months, with social workers offering assistance.
Although the resources are sufficient, he hopes to move back to his own flat soon, as adapting to a new environment weighs heavily on him.
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Sun, another resident, is eager to go home to assess the situation and collect items that comfort him, such as his gaming console, to help kill the time.
Initially, he expected to be allowed to move back within a few days. After living for over 20 years in Wang Chi House, he felt helpless about the uncertainty of returning home, which raised concerns about the emotional impact of this experience.
An 80-year-old woman made the trip to assist her two relatives, both in their 80s, in retrieving personal items and clearing out expired food from their fridge.
Chan arrived with three suitcases and said she had prepared a list of needed items in advance, such as her bank passbooks and clothes.
She explained that she was in the mainland on the day of the fire and left her windows open. Thankfully, her flat suffered no damage, only a slight burnt smell. She is staying in a hotel until next Friday (Dec 12), after which she may move to another transitional housing unit.
The thought of returning home after over 20 years fills her with anxiety, especially since she has lost contact with a neighbor who had informed her about the fire.
Yik also faced a challenging situation when his son warned him during the chaos of the fire, forcing him to escape with nothing but his beloved cat. As he visits his home to retrieve essential items, he feels grateful for the arrangements that allow him to return with assistance on-site.
