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 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 family member, as only four people are permitted to enter a unit at one time.

A man surnamed Chan, who lived on the second floor of Wang Cheong House, said his home was almost completely gutted by fire.

Videos and photos taken by him inside the flat showed blackened walls and the charred remains of many household items.

He was able to salvage a handful of belongings, like jewellery, wedding photos, some cash, as well as the ashes of his two late pet cats.

"The windows in the master bedroom were shattered, and a third of the bed was burnt. There wasn’t much left to be collected,” he said.

"I tried to tell myself not to have any expectations. Because if you have expectations, you will be very disappointed once you go up."

"Most importantly, we are safe and sound. My wife and our other two cats escaped from the fire. This is the best outcome. What I could salvage today is really a bonus," Chan added.

His wife choked up for a moment, saying the visit reminded her of the day the tragedy occurred.

“I had so many emotions as I walked up to my home. The places I passed by while escaping was completely blackened. I saw that many of my neighbours’ flats were also blackened. They were all severely burnt,” she said.

“Looking at the condition of my home and other flats, it’s hard for me to even imagine how my neighbours waited for help.”



Edited by Tony Sabine