Tai Po District, which belongs to the New Territories North East constituency, was affected by the Wang Fuk Court fire. The government arranged for the affected residents to cast their votes at designated polling stations yesterday. Many residents, despite temporarily relocating to other areas, insisted on returning to fulfill their civic duty. Some residents choked up while expressing that the loss of friends and neighbors still brings them sadness. They hope the government will expedite resettlement efforts, thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire, and that the newly elected Legislative Council (LegCo) members will focus on handling the aftermath of the disaster, allowing HK to move forward.
Due to the impact of the Wang Fuk Court fire, three polling stations in Tai Po District were relocated to Hong Kong Teachers' Association Lee Heng Kwei Secondary School (HKTALHK), Sung Tak Wong Kin Sheung Memorial School (WKS), and Law Ting Pong Secondary School (TLP).
Family separated in resettlement
Yesterday morning, voters entered the HKTALHK polling station one after another. Among them were many residents from Wang Fuk Court.
"I miss home so much. I long to reunite with my family. I hope the new Legislative Council will continue to focus on the Wang Fuk Court fire—don't let attention fade after the news cycle passes," said Ms. Wong, who used to live happily with her husband, daughter, and grandson in Wang Sung House. She shared how much she loved living in Tai Po for its pleasant environment and convenient transport. Her daughter had put great effort into decorating their home beautifully. Just months away from retirement and the peaceful life she had envisioned, a devastating fire shattered that reality.
Now, with their home gone and the family separated, her daughter and grandson are temporarily housed in Sam Mun Tsai, while she lives alone in Ma Tau Wai. With tears in her eyes, she emphasized that she voted in the hope that future legislators would prioritize long-term resettlement support for the affected residents.
"Grateful to have survived, but returning to Tai Po, I still feel unsettled," said Ms. Leung, a resident who had lived on the 29th floor of Wang Chi House for over 40 years. Her home was not directly damaged by the fire, but the unit remains sealed. She sighed, mentioning that several friends had lost their lives in the blaze, her voice choking with emotion. Ms. Leung emphasized her priorities: first, she hopes the elected government officials will properly resettle the affected residents; second, she urges a thorough investigation into the truth. She came to vote not only to fulfill her civic duty but also in the hope that the elected representatives would do their utmost to assist the victims and help restore normal life as soon as possible.
Ms. Lo, a resident of Wang Fuk Court currently staying at Nan Cheong's Hostel in Sham Shui Po, made a special trip back to vote yesterday afternoon. "Since my husband requires regular medical appointments in Tai Po District, I hope the government and elected members can arrange resettlement within the same area to make things more convenient for us," she explained.
Hoping LegCo will regulate Owners' Corporations to protect small homeowners
Mr. Shum, a resident of Wang Fuk Court, and his wife went together to the polling station to vote yesterday. "We have voted in every previous election. It's our civic duty," said Mr. Shum. He expressed his hope that the new LegCo will focus on housing issues and the regulation of Owners' Corporations, enabling small homeowners to better protect their rights. Mr. Shum also hopes that this fire will serve as a warning to the government to prevent such tragic incidents from happening again.
Currently placed in temporary housing at Lok Sin Tong, he constantly longs for home despite having a temporary place to stay. "I really want to go back and take a look, to retrieve my belongings," he said. He further hopes that the newly elected LegCo members will pay attention to the follow-up resettlement of the affected residents, and expects the government to propose a clear plan for reconstruction or acquisition as soon as possible. Mr. Shum believes that rebuilding is not an overnight task, but one must look forward. He hopes all affected residents can stay resilient and move beyond the shadow of the disaster as quickly as possible.
Another Wang Fuk Court resident, Mr. Lam, believes the government has already done well and provided substantial support to the victims. "The most important thing now is Hong Kong's future development, aligning with national progress and global needs," he said.
Proactive participation drives reform
WKS polling stations in Tai Po witnessed a steady stream of voters yesterday, including members of ethnic minorities. Several residents from Kwong Fuk Estate mentioned neighbors and friends who tragically passed away in the fire. Having voted in every past election, they now feel an added responsibility to cast their ballots for the sake of those lost. They hope to elect caring and capable legislators who can help everyone restore order and rebuild their homes as soon as possible. One foreign-born voter who calls HK home emphasized that voting is a civic duty and that only by speaking up proactively can reform be driven forward. He hopes more people will cherish their right to vote, express their needs, and work for a better HK.
Citizens highly appraise the government's disaster relief and election arrangements
Ian Clark, a 63-year-old HK citizen, has lived in HK with his family for over 30 years, regarding the city as his home. He emphasized that he values whether candidates have a thorough understanding of the district and can address residents' practical needs. He highly commended the government's performance in disaster relief, noting that the police, fire services, and other relevant departments and personnel had made no effort spared.
Mr. Lau, who grew up in Kwong Fuk Estate, has lived there since its completion in 1984 and holds deep affection for the community. He hopes to elect capable members who genuinely support the government, serve the public, and focus on livelihood issues. The recent fire at Wang Fuk Court has heightened his safety concerns. He stressed that the incident should not be entirely blamed on the government, as developers, contractors, surveyors, architects, and lawyers involved in the Owners' Corporation also bear responsibility.
Ms. Cheung rushed back from Huizhou late at night to vote, fulfilling her civic duty. She mentioned that several friends from different districts also returned to cast their sacred votes.
Mrs. Ho from Tai Po Market carefully compared the platforms of the candidates before bringing her son to vote, hoping to elect a member who truly represents the district.
Many residents of Wang Fuk Court reported a smooth voting process. Some residents took dedicated shuttle buses arranged by the Home Affairs Department to the polling stations, where staff were available to assist and guide them.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao | Editor: Phoebe, Liu Yu)
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