Hong Kong to unveil plans this month for Tai Po fire victims to retrieve belongings

2026.03.17 05:20 Authorities are finalising plans to let Tai Po fire victims safely return to their damaged flats and collect belongings. Photo: Jelly Tse Hong Kong authorities will announce arrangements this month for residents displaced by the deadly Tai Po blaze to return to their fire-damaged flats and collect personal belongings by the end of April, the city’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka‑chiu on Tuesday also said the government would fully cooperate with an independent committee investigating the inferno, when asked if any officials would testify before the body as it begins hearings on Thursday. Speaking before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee stressed that the residents’ return must be carried out safely and in an orderly manner, adding that the process was complicated by the current lack of lift service, electricity and water supply in the buildings. “A lot of units have been burned very severely and have structural problems, including the ceiling, walls, and beams, while some have no windows or doors and the floor is full of debris. So we have to ensure that the number of people that will be allowed to go up and down the staircase will be done safely and orderly,” Lee said. “We hope to be able to announce [our plan] this month, so that, by mid- to late April – or at least within April – we should be able to allow residents to go back.” He also pledged support for returning families, including physical assistance for elderly residents navigating staircases and logistical help for those moving large quantities of personal belongings. The fire, which broke out on November 26, tore through seven of Wang Fuk Court’s eight residential towers, killing at least 168 people – including a firefighter – and displacing nearly 5,000 residents. Residents of Wang Chi House – the only block unaffected by the blaze – were given a two-day window in December to enter their flats and retrieve essential items, with each household limited to 90 minutes.

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