The Tai Po blaze in November has left a deep scar on Hong Kong – not only because of the heavy loss of life and property, but also because of the sense of displacement among those who watched helplessly as their homes went up in flames. Meanwhile, the government continues to deal with the aftermath, including the daunting challenge of arranging for thousands of survivors to return to their fire-ravaged flats to retrieve belongings and bid farewell to their homes and to loved ones who perished.
The scope of the operation and the condition of the buildings make it a high-stakes affair. Dilapidated for months, the buildings are in a state that is beyond imagination. If the post-disaster photographs taken by the authorities are anything to go by, some flats pose genuine risks to anyone entering. The seven 31-storey blocks have no operating lifts or power supply, making access and removal of belongings a
huge logistical challenge. Safety and orderliness must therefore take precedence lest mishaps occur.
To avoid overcrowding and operational delays, it was
initially decided that each household could have no more than four people staying up to three hours in a one-off visit during designated periods from April 20 to May 4. Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing had said residents must be prepared for the difficulty of picking and choosing what they can take and what they must leave behind, pointing out that the group-of-four arrangement meant each family was effectively given up to 12 hours for recovery and remembrance.
Residents were
understandably dismayed, not least because they have been waiting for months to check their flats. Their wishes are simple but poignant. Some are eager to recover whatever is left. Others may want to retrieve any memories they can from the ruins, give deceased family members a proper farewell or simply reconnect with their homes one last time before the site is flattened.
While, for the government, the exercise is a huge safety and logistical challenge, for many residents, it is about closure, memory and dignity. Officials would do well to look beyond procedural matters and risk management and convey empathy and respect. It is important they put themselves into the shoes of those affected and better explain the constraints involved. The operation is, after all, one of many steps needed to help victims rebuild their lives. The move is also being closely watched by the wider community as the city grapples with the fallout from the tragedy.
It is good that the government seems to be
more accommodating in the wake of an online petition by residents for more flexible arrangements. This is the right response, affirming the city’s values and commitments and helping rebuild resilience and public trust.
