A government official has said authorities will “look into” the situation after a resident at the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court found rubbish and other items that did not belong to his flat when he retrieved his belongings. Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Warner Cheuk on May 27, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The resident of Wang Cheong House, the first block hit by the blaze, told reporters on Tuesday that he found items such as cigarette butts, face masks, and drink packets that he believed were left behind by construction workers who had entered his unit.
He also found other items that did not belong to his flat, which he believed were his neighbours’, local media reported .
“When our neighbours come up looking for their things, will they know that their belongings have been placed in my flat?” said the resident.
Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said at a press conference on Tuesday: “Regarding the situation where it appears people had discarded items in the flats, I will have to look into that.”
Tuesday marked the ninth day of Wang Fuk Court residents returning to their units to retrieve their belongings. On that day, residents of Wang Cheong House, which sustained the most fire damage, and Wang Tao House were allowed to return to their homes in batches. A man walks past Wang Fuk Court on December 3, 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The blaze broke out in November last year and engulfed seven of the Tai Po housing estate’s eight blocks, killing 168 people and displacing thousands.
‘Easy to say’
On Tuesday, resident Ma Chung-kui, who plays the zheng , salvaged his collection of the traditional Chinese musical instrument from his flat at Wang Tao House.
He said he hoped to return to his flat again, as the three-hour time slot was only enough for him to retrieve a third of the instruments.
“How could I let go? That’s crazy. It’s easy to say, but not to do,” he said, referring to Cheuk’s earlier remarks advising residents to be mentally prepared to “let go” of some of their belongings and prioritise things with sentimental value.
Another family, who returned to Wang Cheong House, laid down flowers to mourn their parents, who died in the fire.
At the same Tuesday press conference, housing chief Winnie Ho also addressed concerns about why residents were not allowed to take the lift to their flats. She said that the water used to combat the blaze might have rusted the metal components of the lifts.
“We take residents’ safety very seriously. We understand that residents wish to take the lifts to make it easier for them to get in and out, but safety must be our top priority,” Ho said.