Editorial | Community effort needed to help the survivors and those who lost loved ones in the Tai Po tragedy

Along with support from Beijing and the local government, all Hongkongers must quickly unite and help in any way they can

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People console each other after identifying deceased relatives at Kwong Fuk Community Hall following the fatal fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, on November 27. Photo: Eugene Lee

Published: 6:45am, 28 Nov 2025Updated: 8:56am, 28 Nov 2025

A blaze that cannot be contained in one tower is a nightmare scenario for a high-rise city. In an extreme case, it can spread to companion towers like a firestorm. It happened to Hong Kong on Wednesday night. The catastrophic consequences of the city’s deadliest fire in decades are still being counted in the numbers of dead, injured, missing and homeless after the Tai Po public housing estate inferno.

Our first thoughts must be with the grieving families. President Xi Jinping, on Wednesday night, sent condolences and instructions for all-out efforts to extinguish the blaze and minimise casualties. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and Beijing’s Liaison Office also established a task force to coordinate with the city’s government. Deputy director Nong Rong and director Zhou Ji, respectively, visited residents. This conveys a real sense of national tragedy, reflected in the influx of donations and goodwill messages from across the border. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, as well as people worldwide, extended their condolences. Lee has announced a HK$300 million (US$38.57 million) government contribution to a fund to assist victims. Donors include the Jack Ma Foundation, Alibaba Group Holding (owner of the Post) and Ant Group.

The city owes the highest respect to the firefighters who risked their lives – and lost one of their own – in their efforts to keep others safe. The final death toll may not be known for some time. But it already far exceeds the 41 in the Garley Building fire in 1996. The main task on Thursday was to finish extinguishing the fire, rescue anyone still trapped and account for people still missing.

The estate had been under major renovation since July last year. The 31-storey towers were sheathed in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh which, along with the styrofoam used to seal windows, will come under scrutiny in the investigation of the fire’s rapid spread.

Renovation safety under question

Meanwhile, as the authorities launched a criminal investigation, the chief executive ordered inspections on all housing estates under renovation. Three people – two directors and a consultant of the contractor behind the renovation work on the Tai Po estate – have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the alleged use of highly flammable materials. The question arises: just how many major renovations are ongoing right now? Should they all be halted for a review for the sake of peace of mind?

With an estimated 2,000 flats affected by the fire, there are presumably at least as many families now requiring help. People who lost loved ones need material and emotional support. Many who escaped have only the clothes on their back and maybe what they managed to grab as they fled the flames. They will need places to live and financial backing immediately and for the foreseeable future, as rebuilding could take years. The disruption will also be felt by people living in Tai Po and nearby.

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