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

Residents whose flats are on the building’s upper floors were given access, 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.

The government said in a statement all but one turned up and made their way to the flats, and described the operation as smooth and orderly.

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, surnamed 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, surnamed 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 hoped 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.

Another resident, surnamed 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 surnamed 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.

Lam said his parents were delighted to learn that everything they wanted to retrieve was largely intact as the three of them shared a brief video call while he was inside their former home.

An 80-year-old, surnamed Leung, had her son-in-law help with salvaging belongings from her unit on the 30th floor.

“My son-in-law helped retrieve items like family photos of me and my husband, as well as my passport. If only I were a few decades younger, I would definitely have gone up to take a look,” she said.

A man in his 40s, surnamed Ng, said he was heavy-hearted when he stepped inside the place he had called home for almost his entire life.

“Orange [safety] nets have been installed blocking the windows. Previously, I could see the train station from there. It feels as though while things continue to be prosperous outside, only rubble remains inside. It’s like two different worlds, a huge contrast," he said.

He said he also made a brief video call to his parents while inside the flat.

“Everyone is mentally prepared. But it was still unpleasant to see what’s inside. This was my mother and father’s first property. They were sad.

"Even if we are rehoused, it is still just resettlement. All the memories... I don’t think a new flat can restore them,” he said.

On day three of the operation, the government said there were seven requests for police assistance in connection with suspected missing property, and officers were able to recover the belongings in six of those cases.

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.
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Last updated: 2026-04-22 HKT 20:55



Edited by Aaron Tam