【Hong Fook Court Level 5 Fire】Second Night After the Disaster: Warmth Gathers in the Cold Night

On the night of the 27th, it was the second night that the residents affected by the fire at Hong Fook Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, spent away from their homes. The Hong Kong Observatory issued a Strong Monsoon Signal that evening, and the temperature dropped to 19°C. The fire at the scene of Hong Fook Court was basically under control, with a few windows still showing sporadic flames. The smell of burning, carried by the evening breeze, lingered for a long time in the air. Support forces from the Hong Kong SAR government and all sectors of society continued to gather to bring warmth to the affected citizens.

According to China News Service, not far from Hong Fook Court, a banner reading "Food and drinks available for free to those in need" was especially eye-catching outside a shop near Tai Po Market MTR Station. The MTR Corporation also set up a support service station at the station entrance, handling replacement Octopus Card applications for affected residents and distributing insulated bottles to Hong Fook Court residents.

CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School, which is relatively close to Hong Fook Court, serves as a temporary shelter. At the school gate, the reporter saw cartons of bottled water, donated by "Yufu Apartment, Shenzhen," neatly stacked, almost forming a low wall.

At a community square near Hong Fook Court, citizens from Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Island, and other districts spontaneously gathered, bringing warm supplies, boxed meals, fruits, baby formula, pet food, and various daily necessities, piling them up like a mountain. Volunteers sorted and distributed the supplies on site in an orderly manner.

“I want to lend a hand too”

Kenny Lau, a sophomore at the Education University of Hong Kong, was one of the volunteers. He told reporters that after the fire, the school set up a temporary support center for affected teachers and students, and he immediately joined the volunteer team, coming to Hong Fook Court to help transport relief supplies. "I want to lend a hand too," he said.

Huang Zhiqing, who lives in Yuen Long, brought her daughter, a third grader in primary school, to help sort relief supplies. She said she and her whole family have been closely following news of the Hong Fook Court fire and feel deep pain over the disaster. Her daughter specially made a card to give to firefighters and affected people, hoping to offer them some encouragement.

Disaster victims came to the donation area to collect clothes one after another. Granny Sham, a Hong Fook Court resident, was still wearing the thin shirt she had on when interviewed by reporters in the early hours of the 27th. After the fire, she and her husband had been living in a temporary shelter. As she picked out warm coats for herself and her husband, she asked the reporter if she had had dinner, saying: "I heard the shelter is serving char siu rice tonight. Let me take you there for dinner."

At around 10 pm, as the night deepened, residents were still arriving at Hong Fook Court carrying large quantities of supplies. The reporter overheard a volunteer preparing to leave say: "I'll make some ginger tea to bring over tomorrow."