Chongqing - At a press conference on the afternoon of November 29, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government Police Force reported that the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po had left 128 people dead and 83 injured as of 3 p.m. Of those previously listed as missing, 144 have been confirmed safe, while 150 remain unaccounted for and are being contacted one by one.
On the morning of November 29, Bridging News interviewed Danny Lai, Co-Chairman of the Greater Bay Area Education Resources Center and Founding Chairman of the Hong Kong Outstanding Tertiary Students' Services Association, who has been volunteering at the temporary shelter in CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School in Tai Po since November 27.
Lai and his student volunteer team have been assisting fire victims with NGO relief fund registrations, providing guidance on long-term medications, distributing food, offering emotional support, and helping manage crowd flow on site.
Lai said the main shelter was set up inside a badminton-court-sized indoor hall that, despite the number of people, remained orderly. Inside the shelter hall, stations were arranged for registration, medical care, meal distribution, document replacement and applications for government relief assistance.
Lai told Bridging News that donated supplies continued to arrive throughout the day, reflecting a strong sense of solidarity as the community worked through the crisis together. "Both volunteers and affected residents remained largely calm and cooperative," he said.
In addition, the HKSAR government has announced a HK$300 million (about 38.54 million U.S. dollars) relief fund for Wang Fuk Court, with each affected household receiving an immediate HK$10,000 emergency subsidy to meet urgent needs.
After the November 26 fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, the HKSAR government quickly opened several temporary shelters, including the CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School, the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall, the Tai Po Community Centre, and the Fu Shin Community Hall.
From November 29 to December 1, all government buildings and facilities in the HKSAR flew the national and regional flags at half-mast as a mark of mourning. During this period, senior officials canceled non-essential public engagements, and government-organized or government-funded entertainment and celebratory events were either canceled or postponed as appropriate.
The scene at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 29, three days after the five-alarm fire. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
The CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School in Tai Po is serving as a temporary shelter, receiving evacuated residents and helping them apply for assistance from various charities. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
On November 29, many residents brought flowers to the park closest to the Wang Fuk Court fire site in Tai Po to pay their respects. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
This view shows Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 29, three days after the five-alarm blaze. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
A park-side view angle of Hong Kong‘s Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 29, three days after the five-alarm fire. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
On November 27, residents gathered outside Tai Po Market MTR Station to distribute supplies to those affected by the fire. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
On November 29, Tai Po District Office staff assisted fire victims at the CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School shelter with registration and applications for the Special Assistance Fund. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
On November 28, staff distributed food inside the CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School in Tai Po. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
On November 28, the hall at CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School in Tai Po hosted stations for registration, medical care, meal distribution, document replacement, and government aid applications. (Photo/ Danny Lai)
The playground at CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School in Tai Po was used for fire victims to apply for various NGO assistance funds. (Photo/ Danny Lai)