Residents of the seven fire-affected blocks at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, will be able to return to their units in batches to collect personal belongings from April 20 to May 4, the Government announced today.

Outlining the arrangements at a media session, Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, who heads the Task Force on Emergency Support & Fund-Raising, stated that the blocks will be opened in three rounds over 15 days.

Wang Sun House will be the first to open, from April 20 to 22, to test and refine the return process.

Thereafter, Wang Yan House will be opened from April 23 to 25; Wang Cheong House from April 23 to 28; Wang Tao House from April 26 to 28; Wang Kin House from April 29 to May 1; Wang Tai House from April 29 to May 4; and Wan Shing House from May 2 to 4.

Entry limits per unit are based on structural safety. A maximum of four residents may enter together, while those in cordoned-off areas are restricted to two. For severely damaged units, only one resident is permitted to enter at a time.

Residents may stay in their units for up to three hours per visit. Two daily sessions have been scheduled: a morning session from 9am to 1pm, and an afternoon session from 2.30pm to 6.30pm.

To ensure a smooth flow of people and mitigate risks, units on each floor will be opened on a staggered basis, both horizontally and vertically.

Under the “one social worker per household" service, social workers will notify families of their assigned time slots, assist with pre-registration and provide guidance notes. They will also brief residents on the current condition of their units before they enter.

On the scheduled day, pre-registered individuals will be accompanied by their assigned social workers to complete registration at Kwong Fuk Community Hall before proceeding to their units.

For safety, residents must wear helmets, protective gloves and face masks when entering the estate and going upstairs.

Police officers or Civil Aid Service (CAS) members will accompany residents during their ascent, as well as while they are inside their homes. For units involving fatalities or residents with special needs, the Social Welfare Department will arrange dedicated personnel to provide support.

Security will be maintained by police officers stationed at main and rear entrances, stairwells and on every floor.

Additionally, a multi-disciplinary team – comprising social workers, clinical psychologists, civil servants and CAS members – will be on standby across different floors to provide immediate assistance.

Mr Cheuk noted that as the lifts in the affected blocks are out of service, walking up the stairs will be physically demanding. He urged residents to consider their physical condition and act within their limits.  

He also said over 1,000 colleagues from Police, the Housing Department, the Home Affairs Department, the Social Welfare Department and the CAS, as well as civil servants mobilised by the Civil Service Bureau, will help carry out daily arrangements.

“The current arrangements are made after repeated discussion and are reasonable and justified. We urge residents to follow the assigned times so that all households can return to collect their belongings as soon as possible.”