Hong Kong — For many residents of Wang Fuk Court, the upcoming Lunar New Year, normally the city’s largest annual family reunion, will be overshadowed by grief and displacement following the devastating high-rise fire last November that killed 168 people.
A Daily Reminder of Loss
Among the grieving is 68-year-old Yip Ka-kui, who continues to send daily voice notes to his late wife, Pak Shui-lin, who died heroically while warning neighbors to escape the flames. “We won’t be celebrating,” Yip told CNN, reflecting the absence of the family matriarch who once prepared the traditional “tuen leen fan” meal. Instead, Yip and his children plan to honor her memory through activities she loved, like fishing, and by maintaining family closeness in her spirit.
Pak, 66, saved four people and a dog before she likely succumbed to smoke inhalation, a fact that has brought some solace to Yip and their sons. The family, displaced by the fire, now lives together in cramped quarters at the home of Yip’s elder son, just a 15-minute walk from Wang Fuk Court.
Challenges of Temporary Housing
Others, like 24-year-old Dorz Cheung and his 87-year-old grandmother, now live in 130-square-foot government-subsidized container-style apartments in Kai Tak. These spaces are inadequate for traditional family gatherings and leave residents grieving not only lost loved ones but also cherished possessions, from photographs to school awards. Cheung expressed frustration over the fire being a preventable, man-made disaster and hopes authorities will provide permanent housing solutions.
Domestic Workers Confront Trauma
The disaster has also profoundly affected Hong Kong’s domestic workers, many from Indonesia and the Philippines, who risked their lives during the fire. Astutik, 43, recounted rescuing an elderly employer but now feeling “invisible” in her employer’s home while struggling to process trauma. Another worker, Yasmiati, 43, perished in the blaze, leaving her sister Purwanti to grapple with the emotional and financial burden of supporting her family while continuing work in Hong Kong.
Calls for Accountability and Rebuilding
Residents are demanding answers about the fire, which was linked to substandard materials used in a controversial renovation project. Authorities have arrested over a dozen individuals suspected of manslaughter and corruption. While rental subsidies are provided for two years, long-term resettlement plans remain unclear. Families like the Yips hope Wang Fuk Court will be rebuilt so they can return to their longtime home, which they consider the center of their lives.
For many, this Lunar New Year will be a time of quiet remembrance rather than celebration. Survivors like Yip Ka-kui and Dorz Cheung are forced to navigate loss, temporary housing, and the challenge of honoring traditions without the people and homes that once anchored their family lives.
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