Sunday, 30 November, 2025
An outpouring of grief swept Hong Kong on Saturday as thousands paid their respects and laid flowers for the 128 people killed in one of the city’s deadliest fires, marking the start of a three-day official mourning period.
People from across the city gathered at a small park near the charred remains of Wang Fuk Court, the residential complex that burned for more than 40 hours, to leave white and yellow flowers and handwritten messages of remembrance. By nightfall, the queue of mourners had swelled, with many dressed in dark colours, reflecting the sombre mood.
A 69-year-old resident, surnamed Wong, who had lived in the estate for more than four decades, sat dazed as she recounted the neighbours and friends who had perished. “It was a grandmother with an 18-month-old baby… I was very close to them,” she told AFP. “Yesterday it was confirmed they died.”
For others who survived physically, the emotional toll was profound. Wong Kuen-mui, a 67-year-old insurance worker, said, “Forty years’ worth of memories have all been lost… All the old photos of my children are gone. It’s hard to recall what they looked like as kids, and that’s the most painful.”
Elsewhere in the Tai Po district, a hall in a community centre was turned into a condolence point, one of 18 set up across the city. Many queued in silence to sign condolence books, only breaking into sobs. Ki, 52, said, “I can’t do anything. I can only hope they rest in peace.” Another mourner, Raymond Tang, expressed the wish that the deceased could “cross the sea of suffering and depart to the other side.”
City leader John Lee and top ministers observed three minutes of silence at 8:00am outside government headquarters, where the flags of China and Hong Kong were flown at half-mast. During the mourning period, celebratory government events are being cancelled or postponed, and officials will scale back non-essential public appearances.
Meanwhile, China has launched a nationwide campaign targeting major fire risks and hazards in high-rise buildings, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday.
Police confirmed that the death toll remains 128, with 44 of the deceased still awaiting identification. Teams from the Disaster Victim Identification Unit, dressed in full protective gear, completed searches in two of the eight tower blocks without finding additional bodies. Around 150 people remain missing, with authorities working to verify reports.
More than 40 people are still hospitalised, including 11 in critical condition and 21 listed as serious.
On Friday, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog arrested eight people in connection with the blaze, adding to three earlier arrests by police.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the northern Tai Po district, spreading rapidly through seven of the eight high-rises in the densely packed estate.
Authorities said preliminary investigations suggest the blaze started on protective netting on the lower floors, with highly flammable foam boards and bamboo scaffolding contributing to its rapid spread.
Fire alarms in all eight blocks were found to be malfunctioning, Fire Services Chief Andy Yeung said, and he promised action against the contractors responsible. Residents said they did not hear any alarms and went door-to-door to warn neighbours.
The disaster is Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948, when an explosion followed by a fire killed at least 135 people.
On Saturday, Police Regional Commander Lam Man-han offered a small note of relief: “During the search, we did not find any human remains. We rescued three cats from Wang Yan House and one turtle from Wang Tao House.”
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An outpouring of grief swept Hong Kong on Saturday as thousands paid their respects and laid flowers for the 128 people killed in one of the city’s deadliest fires, marking the start of a three-day official mourning period.
People from across the city gathered at a small park near the charred remains of Wang Fuk Court, the residential complex that burned for more than 40 hours, to leave white and yellow flowers and handwritten messages of remembrance. By nightfall, the queue of mourners had swelled, with many dressed in dark colours, reflecting the sombre mood.
A 69-year-old resident, surnamed Wong, who had lived in the estate for more than four decades, sat dazed as she recounted the neighbours and friends who had perished. “It was a grandmother with an 18-month-old baby… I was very close to them,” she told AFP. “Yesterday it was confirmed they died.”
For others who survived physically, the emotional toll was profound. Wong Kuen-mui, a 67-year-old insurance worker, said, “Forty years’ worth of memories have all been lost… All the old photos of my children are gone. It’s hard to recall what they looked like as kids, and that’s the most painful.”
Elsewhere in the Tai Po district, a hall in a community centre was turned into a condolence point, one of 18 set up across the city. Many queued in silence to sign condolence books, only breaking into sobs. Ki, 52, said, “I can’t do anything. I can only hope they rest in peace.” Another mourner, Raymond Tang, expressed the wish that the deceased could “cross the sea of suffering and depart to the other side.”
City leader John Lee and top ministers observed three minutes of silence at 8:00am outside government headquarters, where the flags of China and Hong Kong were flown at half-mast. During the mourning period, celebratory government events are being cancelled or postponed, and officials will scale back non-essential public appearances.
Meanwhile, China has launched a nationwide campaign targeting major fire risks and hazards in high-rise buildings, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday.
Police confirmed that the death toll remains 128, with 44 of the deceased still awaiting identification. Teams from the Disaster Victim Identification Unit, dressed in full protective gear, completed searches in two of the eight tower blocks without finding additional bodies. Around 150 people remain missing, with authorities working to verify reports.
More than 40 people are still hospitalised, including 11 in critical condition and 21 listed as serious.
On Friday, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog arrested eight people in connection with the blaze, adding to three earlier arrests by police.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the northern Tai Po district, spreading rapidly through seven of the eight high-rises in the densely packed estate.
Authorities said preliminary investigations suggest the blaze started on protective netting on the lower floors, with highly flammable foam boards and bamboo scaffolding contributing to its rapid spread.
Fire alarms in all eight blocks were found to be malfunctioning, Fire Services Chief Andy Yeung said, and he promised action against the contractors responsible. Residents said they did not hear any alarms and went door-to-door to warn neighbours.
The disaster is Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1948, when an explosion followed by a fire killed at least 135 people.
On Saturday, Police Regional Commander Lam Man-han offered a small note of relief: “During the search, we did not find any human remains. We rescued three cats from Wang Yan House and one turtle from Wang Tao House.”
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