From distribution of essentials to blood donations, community rushes to aid victims of Tai Po fire

Countless volunteers of different ages, occupations, and backgrounds have flocked to Hong Kong’s Tai Po district following a devastating blaze that has touched the hearts of people across and beyond Hong Kong.

Since early Thursday morning, these Good Samaritans — including elderly residents, college students, mainland students studying in Hong Kong, and young mothers — have been arriving at temporary shelters in the neighborhood. Some brought food and clothes; others helped distribute necessities; and some assisted with registering missing people.

“I just want to help as much as I can,” said a 70-year-old woman surnamed Tso, who has lived in the community for four decades. She has been helping distribute water to victims since the fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon.

“Although my home was not affected, I still felt very sad. … It was heartbreaking for me to see so many people unable to reach their families,” she said.

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Tso added that two of her friends live in the fire-damaged buildings. “I haven’t heard any news about them. I’m praying and hoping it’s only because their phones’ batteries are drained.”

At a media briefing, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said, “We are going through a moment of collective grief, and in this difficult time, we must face it with strength and unity.

“I hope all sectors of society can transform their sorrow and compassion into constructive strength, so that together we can maintain the normal functioning of our community and help society recover as soon as possible,” he added.

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Tsui, a student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, just one MTR stop from the disaster site, arrived at 7 am on Thursday to help distribute clothes and necessities.

“It’s heartbreaking to see so many people affected,” he said. “I just wanted to do my part.”

At the Church of Christ in China Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School, which has been converted into a shelter, a volunteer registered names of the missing and held a file listing the absent, which was organized by floor and flat. He said that most of the missing were from Wang Fuk Court’s Wang Cheong House — reportedly the first of the estate’s seven blocks to catch fire — and Wang Tai House.

Angus Ng Hok-ming, chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Youth Association, has organized over 800 volunteers, including local residents and mainland residents working and studying in Hong Kong, to provide assistance.

Ng told China Daily that his team will prioritize personnel for the distribution and organization of supplies, especially as displaced victims may face challenges during the relatively cold evening.

At the school, a woman surnamed Ran, who lives near the affected area, said that after a sleepless night, she decided to help. She brought her two children, aged 6 and 11, whose classes were suspended for the day.

“I want them to learn gratitude, to appreciate society, and to become caring individuals,” she said.

Local blood donation stations reported that appointments for this week were fully booked, but several residents still came to offer donations. Among them was Wendy Hung, who said that although she was unable to donate without an appointment, she was touched  to witness the city’s compassion.

“If there is a need for blood donations in the future, I am always ready to help,” she said.

The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service thanked the public for its generous donations, adding that its blood bank maintains a stable supply enough for about eight to 10 days.

“We encourage kindhearted donors to schedule an appointment before donating. This helps reduce waiting times and ensures a smoother process for everyone,” a spokesperson said.

Across the border, Lan Yuxiao, head of the social affairs department at the Shenzhen Blood Center, said that if Hong Kong needs additional blood supplies, the Shenzhen center will intensify mobilization efforts to ensure emergency reserves for both cities.

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A spokesperson for the Social Welfare Department said the department has sent social workers, clinical psychologists, and other support staff to assist those at temporary shelters and hospitals. The department has also instructed youth service centers to care for children whose parents are unable to look after them because of school closures in the disaster-stricken area.

The Hong Kong Housing Society said that it has set aside 90 units at the Trackside Villas in Tai Po for families who lost their homes in the fire. Those in need of assistance can contact the society at 2838-1393.

Contact the writers at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com