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Lo Hoi-ying

Residents of the only tower left untouched by the deadly blaze that destroyed seven others at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood will be given 90 minutes on Wednesday and Thursday to collect their belongings.
Civil servants will be on hand to help move their possessions, authorities have said.
Amy Lam Man-han, regional commander for New Territories North, on Tuesday said that authorities understood residents of Wang Chi House were anxious to return home to retrieve their possessions.
“We will arrange for residents, on a one-off basis, to return home to collect their valuables and personal items tomorrow and the day after,” she told a press briefing.
Lam said the Disaster Victim Identification Unit (DVIU) had searched 40 per cent of Wang Cheong House and 90 per cent of Wang Sun Court as of Tuesday afternoon.
The search operation in the other five blocks burnt by the fire was completed on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Karen Tsang Shuk-yin of the force’s casualty inquiry unit said officers recovered another 13 bodies on Tuesday, including eight previously located by firefighters.
With the discovery of the five new bodies, the death toll from the fire has risen to 156.
Tsang said 127 of the 156 bodies have been identified.
About 30 residents are still missing.
The Home Affairs Department’s Eastern district officer Henry Lai said residents of Wang Chi House would be allowed to collect important and valuable items between 9am and 9pm on Wednesday and Thursday.
“They will be given 12 hours on both days, so there is no need to rush on the morning of the first day,” he said.
Each household can send two residents to their flats for a duration of 1½ hours. They will then be required to leave the premises as police will cordon off the area afterwards.
Lai said the government will arrange sufficient manpower to assist the residents.
Members of each household will be accompanied by a civil servant, and police officers will be stationed on every floor to maintain order.
“If needed, civil servants stationed outside the unit can help to move the belongings,” he said.
Residents will be transported free of charge from their temporary accommodation in youth hostels, hotels and transitional housing to the estate.
Taxi fleets and vans will be on site to offer free rides if needed, he added.

Meanwhile, police on Monday arrested a 27-year-old woman who is a two-way exit permit holder in connection with a scam.
Lam Kin-tat, the assistant district commander for crime in Wan Chai district, said the force received a report on Saturday evening about fraudsters posing as a social welfare organisation and soliciting donations.
“The police requested that the website be taken down and contacted the relevant bank to freeze the account,” he said. “So far, there have been no reports of residents being scammed by this website.”
He said the woman, who owned the mule account, was detained and did not rule out further arrests.
“The police strongly condemn evil-hearted people who exploit the kindness and unity of Hongkongers in times of great pain to commit such despicable acts,” he said.
He urged residents to be wary of scammers seeking donations while posing as animal welfare organisations, celebrities or the family of firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who died while battling the blaze.
Some fraudsters posed as volunteers to collect personal information such as identity numbers and bank accounts from fire victims, or impersonated residents to deceive members of the public into donating money, he added.
Lam reminded residents to donate through official and verified channels such as the government-established Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.
Police have arrested 15 people so far for suspected manslaughter, including the contractor and subcontractors of Wang Fuk Court’s renovation works.
Officers said the investigation unit had entered six blocks to collect evidence following the completion of search operations by the DVIU.
“The operation is expected to last three weeks, including collecting evidence from the building’s exterior,” he said. “There is some collapsed scaffolding which could be concealing remains or important evidence.”
Photos taken inside the gutted blocks, including images showing the remains of the deceased, have been circulating online.
Lam said the force was aware of the leak and the cybersecurity and investigation bureau was investigating the incident.
“We have requested the relevant platform to take down all these photos,” she said. “If members of the public have received these photos, please delete them to defend the dignity of the deceased.”


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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Residents of tower spared in Hong Kong blaze get 90 minutes to fetch belongings

The death toll from the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court has risen to 156. Photo: Elson Li

Chief Superintendent Karen Tsang says officers recovered another 13 bodies on Tuesday. Photo: Elson Li

 Lam Kin-tat reminded residents to donate through official and verified channels. Photo: Elson Li

Hongkongers gather on seventh day after Tai Po fire to grieve, pray and demand answers

Residents and a group of Buddist monks pray for the victims of the Tai Po fire on Tuesday. Photo: Eugene Lee

A resident bows to pay respects to the dead, as residents lay flowers before the devastated towers of Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Sam Tsang

Relatives of victims gather in prayer at a Taoist mourning ceremony held near Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Elson Li

Indonesian helper’s last call to husband in Hong Kong fire: ‘she asked me to forgive her’

Erawati with her husband, Suyitno, and son, Doni. Photo: Suyitno

Flowers are seen next to the buildings at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on Tuesday after last week’s deadly fire. Photo: Reuters

Indonesian nationals take part in a prayer session for victims of last week’s fire at Hong Kong’s Victoria Park on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Search operations continue at Wang Fuk Court on Monday. Photo: Kyodo

News

Hong Kong

Society

12-hour windows will be given on Wednesday and Thursday, with civil servants on hand to help move possessions


12-hour windows will be given on Wednesday and Thursday, with civil servants on hand to help move possessions.


Hong Kong fires and safety

Crime

Crime in Hong Kong

Residents of tower spared in Hong Kong blaze get 90 minutes to fetch belongings

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}12-hour windows will be given on Wednesday and Thursday, with civil servants on hand to help move possessions

12-hour windows will be given on Wednesday and Thursday, with civil servants on hand to help move possessions