Residents of Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court have returned to the fire-ravaged ruins in recent days, climbing stairs to retrieve jewellery, cash, photo albums and keepsakes before bidding farewell to their homes. The fire services chief acknowledged at a hearing that departments need better communication while insisting on clear divisions of responsibility. The blaze killed 168 people.
Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po suffered a massive blaze on November 26, 2025, engulfing seven of its eight high-rises under renovation and killing 168 people, including one firefighter, while displacing nearly 5,000 residents. Wang Cheong House was the worst hit, with 81 deaths and 63 per cent of flats destroyed.
Starting April 24, residents have returned in batches to salvage items. Five floors of Wang Cheong House open daily through Tuesday, while Wang Yan House access runs over three days until Saturday. Resident Kwok, with a fractured foot from the fire, climbed seven floors to recover a childhood water boiler. Retired part-time taxi driver Hon searched his charred flat in Wang Sun House for a bag of change but found 'nothing much'. His daughter Ice Hon sought photo albums from her late mother, describing the site as 'dust and ruins everywhere... like the aftermath of a war'.
One resident played a 'final piano song' on an irretrievable instrument for closure. On the same day, Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung Yan-kin testified before the independent committee, admitting fire and building authorities could have collaborated better on risks like polyfoam boards and that the department will amend laws to tighten contractor oversight. He insisted on clear divisions, with the Buildings Department and Housing Bureau's Independent Checking Unit handling structural safety, while the Fire Services Department monitors fire installations. 'This is very clear. If we interfere, our roles may overlap,' he said.
Committee chairman Mr Justice David Lok Kai-hong noted the Buildings Department might not identify all fire hazards. Earlier witnesses, including on-site commander Derek Armstrong Chan and assistant director Tang Wing-wah, described challenges like falling debris blocking entrances and carrying heavy pumps due to deactivated boosters. Chan defended not activating the Emergency Alert System as 'unsuitable' but conceded the level four fire alarm should have been raised sooner.
