How Hong Kong came together after the Tai Po fire
Near Wang Fuk Court, volunteers from across the city gathered to offer help, lay flowers and turn Tai Po into a place of shared care
Photography by Alexander Mak and Jocelyn Tam
For Johannie Tong Hiu-yan, a social worker with the Mission for Migrant Workers, the needs of the community come first. But after some gentle probing, she finally answers the question of how she is doing.
“I feel tired,” she concedes. “It’s inevitable. There’s so much to do, and it’s a traumatic event for the whole community.”
Hong Kong endured its most devastating fire in decades, when a blaze, which started on Wednesday, November 26, tore through seven of the eight towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po. At the time of writing, the tragedy had claimed at least 159 lives but authorities warn the number may rise, as the full toll is still being assessed.
It’s Friday, November 28, and Tong is in Tai Po, assisting in the relief effort. Behind her, a Filipino domestic worker who had been employed by a family living in the housing estate begins to cry. Friends quickly gather, offering tissues and comfort. Tong pauses, takes in the scene, draws a breath and accepts a bag of donations – portable batteries, notebooks, underwear.
“It’s a tragedy, but I have to say I feel deeply touched by the community’s help,” says Tong, gesturing around her at the constant churn of volunteers near the housing estate. “I still can’t believe how crowded this place is.”