The second batch of displaced residents from Wang Fuk Court returned to their homes on Thursday to salvage what they could.

The returnees are residents of units across five floors of Wang Cheong House and 10 floors of Wang Yan House.

This comes after residents of Wang Sun House — who formed the first phase of returnees from the estate's seven fire-damaged blocks to be allowed back to their homes — completed their visits on Wednesday.

One of the returnees on Thursday, a man surnamed Cheung, who used to live on the fourth floor of Wang Yan House, wanted to bid farewell to a place he had called home for more than four decades.

“I want to say thank you and goodbye. I had lived here from a young age. I have very fond memories of the place. I hate to say goodbye. It’s like losing your family member,” he said.

He brought along two large backpacks and hoped to be able to visit his flat again on another day.

Another resident, a man surnamed Lau, who was scheduled to visit his own unit in Wang Cheong House this Sunday, came on Wednesday to help his parents and sister salvage belongings from their home in Wang Yan House.

He was among those injured in the blaze last November.

"We will first check if anything is missing," he said.

"Then we will retrieve documents and photos. The most complicated item to recover will be the title deed."

"I suffered a 7.5 percent burn injury while escaping. Recovery is going alright. Hong Kong’s healthcare is decent. But still, I had to experience the pain," Lau added.

Asked how he felt about returning to the family home, he said, "I can’t really think of anything; I just can’t wait."

Another resident, surnamed Lee, who lived on the eighth floor of Wang Yan House, said she had given up her spot to an elderly resident, as only four people are permitted to enter a unit at one time.

Kong Cheung-fat, a former member of the Wang Fuk Court owners' corporation management committee, was also among the returnees on Thursday.

He said he had requested to reschedule his visit in order to attend a hearing of the independent committee probing the fire.




Edited by Tony Sabine