Housing – Survivors Return to Hong Kong Fire-Ravaged Apartments After Months
Housing – For the first time since a devastating fire tore through his residential complex last November, 78-year-old Keung Mak is preparing to step back into what remains of his home. The visit, scheduled for Monday, comes with heavy emotions, as he already knows the destruction he is about to face. A photograph shared earlier by a social worker revealed the extent of the damage, leaving little room for hope.
A Home Reduced to Ruins
Mak’s apartment, where he spent more than four decades with his wife and raised their children, has been severely damaged. The ceiling is charred to the point that structural steel bars are exposed, while broken tiles cover the floor. Parts of the unit now require reinforcement to prevent collapse.
Speaking ahead of his return, Mak expressed deep disappointment. He said he had not imagined the destruction would be so severe, especially on the lower floors of the building.
Deadly Blaze and Widespread Displacement
The fire, considered the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades, spread rapidly across seven out of eight buildings in the Tai Po residential complex. The tragedy claimed 168 lives and displaced thousands of residents.
Starting this week, former residents have been allowed to return in phases to inspect their homes and recover belongings. Authorities expect the process to continue into early May. Meanwhile, many survivors remain scattered across the city, living in temporary arrangements as they await long-term housing solutions.
Elderly Residents Face Physical and Emotional Strain
The return is particularly challenging for elderly residents, who made up a significant portion of the complex’s population. With elevators still out of service, many have had to prepare physically to climb multiple flights of stairs in high-rise buildings.
Officials reported that more than 1,400 individuals aged 65 and above registered for the return visits. On the first day alone, around 270 residents were scheduled to re-enter the complex. Some left without speaking, reflecting the emotional weight of the experience.
One resident, Steven Chung, described the staircases as heavily blackened. While he managed to recover some valuables, many of his belongings were damaged by water and debris. He also expressed concern about rising housing prices, which may complicate future resettlement.
Limited Time to Recover Memories
Residents are being given restricted access to their apartments, typically up to three hours, with a maximum of four people allowed inside. In severely damaged units, only one person is permitted entry due to safety concerns.
Mak and his son will enter their apartment together, as conditions allow only two people at a time. His wife, Kit Chan, hopes she might also be granted access, though she fears that most of their cherished items—family photographs, old letters, and sentimental belongings—have been lost.
Chan said the emotional loss is overwhelming, noting that even small keepsakes appear to have been completely destroyed.
Lingering Questions and Emotional Impact
For some former residents, the psychological toll remains significant. Cyrus Ng, who previously lived in the complex, recalled the sleepless nights following the fire. Although time has helped ease some of the distress, he said the incident still weighs heavily on him and his family.
Ng also raised concerns about unresolved questions surrounding the fire. According to a legal representative involved in an independent inquiry, many fire safety systems failed on the day of the incident, reportedly due to human error.
As Ng prepares to revisit his family’s apartment, he plans to document its condition. While their unit suffered less damage, he remains concerned about the emotional impact on his parents and the possibility of theft after months of vacancy.
Debate Over Rebuilding and Relocation
Authorities have indicated that repairing the damaged buildings may not be cost-effective and have proposed demolishing the affected structures. The government has offered to buy back homeownership rights from residents and assist with relocation.
However, some residents have questioned this approach. Data from the ongoing inquiry suggests that only about half of the apartments sustained damage, raising the possibility that certain units could be restored.
For others, even unaffected buildings carry emotional scars. Stephanie Leung, whose building was spared, said returning home is difficult due to the memories associated with the tragedy. She hopes the government will consider including her building in redevelopment plans.
Despite differing views on the future, one thing remains clear: for many residents, returning is not just about recovering belongings, but confronting the lasting impact of a tragedy that reshaped their lives.