Grief blanketed Hong Kong this weekend as the city came to terms with its most devastating fire in modern history. The blaze, which erupted on Wednesday, has claimed at least 128 lives, with dozens more still unaccounted for, marking the territory's deadliest such incident since 1948.
A City in Mourning
The weekend provided a sombre opportunity for residents to pay their respects. People arrived in large numbers to lay flowers at a memorial near the site of the tragedy, with queues so long that a formal system was needed to manage the crowds. Official books of condolences were also established across the city, creating spaces for collective mourning.
Meanwhile, the grim task of investigating the scene began in earnest. Large teams of investigators, clad in protective hazmat suits, were bused into the charred building. The occasional flicker of a flashlight from a blackened upper window served as a stark reminder that fire services were still undertaking perilous work inside the unstable structure.
Grassroots Aid and Government Intervention
The local response had been initially spearheaded by a vibrant, grassroots aid distribution centre, which became the heart of the community's efforts. However, in a move that left residents bewildered, organisers were given notice at 4am to pack up and leave. By 10.30am, the mountains of donated supplies were gone, and the task was handed over to professional non-governmental organisations.
One organiser, choosing her words carefully, suggested the government's decision was influenced by past events, a clear hint at the pro-democracy protests of 2019. The authorities now view any mass gathering as a potential risk, leaving the system visibly nervous. This apprehension is compounded by a rising tide of public anger, with many questioning what the government knew about fire risks and what it chose to ignore.
Warnings Ignored
Sky News has learned that residents' fears were not unfounded. Concerns over fire safety were reportedly raised as early as September 2024 in connection with extensive renovations at Wang Fuk Court. Residents specifically flagged the suspected flammability of green netting used to cover the building.
Jason Poon, a civil engineer-turned-activist who worked with the residents, received an email months later from the Labour Department. The response insisted that "the mesh's flame retardant properties meet safety standards." Despite this official assurance, anxiety persisted within the community. For months, posts on a residents' Facebook group continued to voice worries. After a smaller fire broke out in the city last month, one resident posted: "All the materials outside are flammable, I feel really worried." Another echoed the sentiment, stating, "The government has no sense of concern."
For Mr Poon, who campaigns against lax construction safety standards, the tragedy is profoundly devastating. "They knew all the maintenance was using corner-cutting materials, but they didn't do anything," he said. "This is a man-made disaster." The Hong Kong Labour Department has not yet responded to Sky News' request for comment on these allegations.
While grief remains the most prominent emotion in Hong Kong, the anger over a disaster many believe was preventable is simmering dangerously close to the surface.
