On Dec. 3, reporters visited the streets of Tai Po and found that many residents, including local business owners, elderly neighbors, young parents, and frontline volunteers, are striving to remain rational amidst their grief and reflection. They hope to rebuild their homes and use the power of their ballots to promote community reconstruction and system improvements, preventing such tragedies from happening again.
Mrs. Chan, a vendor at Tai Po Market, candidly expressed that the impact of the fire extends beyond the day of the disaster; the entire Tai Po community is still immersed in sorrow. However, she acknowledges that life must move forward, planning to go vote after finishing her business on December 7, and she will encourage her family to join her. She hopes that the next Legislative Council can pass more economic policies to revitalize the community. Mr. Tam, another local merchant, stated he intends to fulfill his civic duty on election day: "I have arranged to vote at the polling station on December 7 before returning to open my shop," he said.
Ms. Sit, a long-time resident of Kwong Fuk Estate, feels deeply saddened when discussing the Wang Fuk Court incident. Yet, she believes in transforming her sorrow into the strength to rebuild, urging her neighbors to vote together on December 7 to support system improvements and enhance oversight. This includes addressing building fire safety, public facility maintenance, property management responsibilities, and law enforcement follow-ups to prevent tragedies from recurring.
Voting to Improve Systems and Prevent Future Incidents
Mr. Wong, who lives in Kwong Fuk Estate and has children attending a nearby kindergarten, is particularly vigilant about home safety. Since the fire, he and his family have developed a habit of checking and turning off appliances before leaving home. "Especially with my kids here in kindergarten, I worry a lot." Mrs. Wong, a registered voter, confirmed she would vote on December 7, while Mr. Wong, who is not yet registered, said, "I encourage her to go. We all hope the government and relevant departments can learn from this and strengthen fire safety awareness." Mr. Wong hopes the next Legislative Council will further improve building safety by enhancing government inspections, maintenance, and accountability for industry bad apples, ensuring a safe environment for families and children.
Since the fire, volunteer Mr. Chu has been providing frontline support in the Kwong Fuk Court area, assisting with the distribution of supplies and closely witnessing the sorrow of the victims and the solidarity from all sectors of society. "The fire has sounded an alarm for the government." His experiences have strengthened his conviction in using ballots to encourage the government to prioritize fire safety awareness and community disaster preparedness. He noted that this year's election atmosphere is different from previous ones, and he will encourage all eligible individuals to vote while carefully comparing candidates' platforms and proposals before casting their votes.
Despite the unfortunate events in Hong Kong, some residents expressed their appreciation for the overall stability of the environment and their confidence in the city's future. Mr. Yeung, a resident of Tai Po, believes that living in Hong Kong is generally stable, and he plans to vote on time, hoping to support both the executive and legislative branches in their efforts to build a better Hong Kong.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
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