HONG KONG – Residents of seven fire-affected blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po will be given the chance to return once again to their units from May 21 to 29 to retrieve their personal belongings.

The seven blocks of the residential complex will be opened in phases, with two to three blocks accessible each day, the special administrative region government announced on Friday.

A deadly fire broke out on Nov 26, ripped through seven out of the estate’s eight towers, killing 168 people and ruining about 2,000 homes.

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Under access arrangements broadly similar to those previously implemented, residents will be able to return to their respective units at the time arranged for them.

Four residents per unit will be able to enter their building at a time. They will be able to stay for up to three hours and make multiple trips.

On a staggered basis, 10 floors at a time will be opened within each block, starting from the lower floors.

Residents of Wang Yan House, Wang Sun House and Wang Tai House will be able to return to their flats from May 21 to 23.

Those of Wang Kin House and Wan Cheong House will be able to return to collect their belongings from May 24 to 26.

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Meanwhile, May 27 to 29 has been allocated for residents of Wang Tao House and Wang Shing House.

Morning sessions will run from 9 am to 1 pm, and afternoon sessions from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Under the “one social worker per household” arrangement, social workers will notify households of their allocated timeslots and assist with pre-registration.

On access days, pre-registered individuals will be instructed to proceed to Kwong Fuk Community Hall to check in and collect safety gear before going to their units.

Total 6,265 people from 1,674 households returned to their units to retrieve their belongings during the 15-day first round of belongings collection efforts, which began on April 20.

Earlier in December, residents of the only building spared from the fire, Wang Chi House, were given a 90-minute opportunity to go back to their apartments.