Nearly two weeks after a late-November blaze ripped through Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and communities citywide are stepping up to support survivors. From emergency funding to school relocations and cross-border aid from the Chinese mainland, relief efforts are gathering momentum as investigators work to piece together what went wrong.
The HKSAR government has earmarked HK$5 million to help schools affected by the fire. With Tai Po Baptist Public School's campus still out of action, students will move to two nearby campuses from mid-December, with classrooms carefully allocated by grade to keep learning on track.
As of December 3, the Hong Kong Police Force reported 159 confirmed fatalities and 31 people still missing. Authorities have identified 140 of the victims, whose ages ranged from 1 to 97, underscoring the fire's broad human impact.
Seventy-nine people were injured. According to Lo Chung-mau, health secretary of the HKSAR government, all patients have been stabilized: 30 remain hospitalized—six in serious condition and 24 stable—while 49 have already been discharged.
Chief Executive John Lee vowed on Friday to deepen psychological support for those affected. 'Aid will not stop,' he said, urging society to offer mutual help so residents can rebuild their routines as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, a joint investigation by the Fire Services Department and the Hong Kong Police Force is underway to determine the exact cause of the tragedy. Officials promise transparency and regular updates as evidence is gathered and analysed.
Community groups, NGOs and volunteers—including teams from across Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland—continue to deliver essentials to displaced families. As relief operations shift from immediate rescue to longer-term recovery, the city's resilience and spirit of solidarity—fueled by cross-border connections—serve as a powerful reminder of global interdependence.
Reference(s):
Hong Kong's Tai Po fire: Aid continues pouring, investigation underway
cgtn.com
