The final group of displaced residents from Wang Sun House are returning to their fire-ravaged flats to see what they could salvage.

Residents whose flats are on the building’s upper floors were given access on Wednesday, after those who lived on the lower floors were allowed to visit their homes in the preceding two days.

A total of 79 households registered to enter their flats on Wednesday.

Residents of Wang Sun House are the first to be allowed back into their Wang Fuk Court homes since a deadly blaze that claimed 168 lives tore through most of the estate nearly five months ago.

One 73-year-old resident, Ng, whose unit was on the 25th floor, said only her husband and children would go up due to her age.

“Photos. They are the most important, alongside certificates. They are placed in the bedroom and living room. If there’s cash that hasn’t been burnt, hopefully it can be retrieved. If it’s burnt, then so be it,” she said.

Another resident on the same floor, Ho, said she would like to have a look at her home, regardless of how badly damaged it was.

“I have been living here from the very beginning, since the building was completed. I lived here for 42 years. I hope to retrieve things that contain memories, and valuable items," she said.

Ho’s daughter, meanwhile, said she hopes to go up for a second time to bid farewell to her musical instruments.

“I don’t have many luxury items. I have a cello and a piano, and they have accompanied my growth from a young age. But I don’t think I am able to retrieve them. So, I will just say goodbye,” she said.

Tang, who lived one floor below, hoped to retrieve her wedding ring, photos, and a porcelain clock, as well as the ashes of her cat.

“The ashes are in a stainless-steel container. Its melting point is over 1,500 degrees [Celsius], so it should not have melted,” she said.

There was good news for a man, Lam, who walked up to his parents' flat on the 24th floor.

“My parents are very old, so I went up for them. I found most of the items I wanted. Their gold jewellery and wedding photos were not burnt and I was able to retrieve them,” he said.

Those from Wang Cheong House, Wang Yan House and Wang Tao House will be able to visit their homes from Thursday until April 28.

Residents from Wang Tai House, Wang Kin House and Wang Shing House will be among the last batch to return from April 29 to May 4.


Edited by Aaron Tam