For many families of victims in the Wang Fuk Court fire, saying their final goodbyes to their loved ones is the most urgent matter at hand. However, due to the high temperatures of the fire, many of the victims' remains have been rendered unrecognizable. To alleviate the regret of the grieving families, the local funeral industry has contacted body reconstruction specialists from Taiwan to assist in restoring the remains, while also considering the introduction of more advanced 3D printing technology for facial reconstruction from the Chinese Mainland. In some cases, these services will be provided free of charge.
Industry professionals have noted that 3D printing technology for body reconstruction has made significant advancements, requiring only a few clear photographs of the deceased to generate a nearly life-sized 3D model that can be used to restore the facial features. It is reported that the first group of specialists from Taiwan will arrive in Hong Kong today (Dec. 10).
Taiwan's certified mortician and body reconstruction expert, Wei Fuzhi, stated in an interview with Wen Wei Po on Dec. 9 that he was contacted by HK's veteran funeral planner, Mr. Lo. Wei emphasized that his team's goal is simply to help in any way they can. "We've always offered our services free of charge. We're all compatriots, and it's good to be able to help," he said.
Specialized materials difficult to source locally, most will be brought from Taiwan
Wei pointed out that in Taiwan, his team is typically responsible for the reconstruction of remains in similar large-scale disasters. Considering the scale of the Tai Po fire and his past experience assisting with similar matters in HK, the first group of specialists is flying in today. Most of the reconstruction materials will be brought from Taiwan, with only a small portion of non-transportable materials to be sourced locally through friends in HK.
Wei explained that while HK has embalming materials, specialized reconstruction materials are more difficult to find. His charity association maintains a stockpile of such materials to respond to large-scale disasters, and they will attempt to transport as much as possible to HK this time.
Striving to restore features for a proper farewell
Due to the varying degrees of damage sustained by the victims in the fire, the reconstruction process will differ for each case. Wei explained that his team will use medical-grade skull models covered with special silicone and will sculpt them based on photographs provided by the families. Missing limbs will be reconstructed using silicone prosthetics modeled on the human body.
The team will work according to information provided by the families, such as photographs, descriptions, height, weight, and clothing preferences, to restore the deceased's features as much as possible. The deceased will also be dressed in their favorite clothing to ensure they have a dignified farewell. For remains that are not severely damaged, the main challenge lies in applying makeup, which requires specialized cosmetic products that the team has prepared.
Services provided free of charge, stay duration flexible
Lo noted that there is a significant shortage of professionals in HK with knowledge and skills in body reconstruction. The general perception is that if the deceased has suffered an accident, the remains must be handled in their damaged state. Many people are even unaware that body reconstruction services exist.
Following the fire at Wang Fuk Court on Nov. 26, Wei proactively reached out two days later, offering his team's assistance free of charge. It is understood that the team plans to stay in HK for three days, though their stay can be extended depending on the needs of the families.
Another team of specialists expected to arrive next week
Separately, Mr. Kam, General Manager of Kowloon Funeral Parlour, told Wen Wei Po that his funeral home has established a cooperative relationship with Taiwan's body reconstruction specialists in recent years. Following this fire, they have also invited another team of specialists to assist in the reconstruction of the victims' remains. This second team is expected to arrive next week. "Currently, local staff are handling embalming and basic reconstruction work, but specialists will later carry out facial reconstruction," Kam said.
Meanwhile, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals' three funeral parlours are providing support to the families of the deceased. Chief Executive for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Mr. So, revealed that the group's funeral services foundation has allocated up to HK$80,000 per case to cover expenses and is reaching out to mainland funeral training academies for assistance with body reconstruction.
"It's anticipated that some remains may not be in ideal condition or may be incomplete. Some families have also asked us for help in this regard. We are in contact with professional body reconstruction specialists to explore how we can assist them. If feasible, we may consider introducing 3D printing technology from the Mainland to help. We hope to ensure that families can see their loved ones in a more complete and peaceful state before burial," So said.
Honorary Permanent Chairman of the Hong Kong Funeral Business Association, Mr. Ng, emphasized that HK currently lacks 3D printing technology for body reconstruction and must rely on cooperation with the Mainland. He described the Mainland's 3D printing technology as being capable of achieving near one-to-one restoration.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; English Editor: Zoey SUN)
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