In the wake of the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, which marked the worst blaze in Hong Kong in decades, Gang Aoping of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council commended the city’s remarkable solidarity and resilience.
In an article published on the office’s official account titled United As One, Hong Kong Will Prevail and Forge Ahead, the author praised the swift, coordinated response from all levels of government and the wider community.
“The care and support from the central government have given Hong Kong powerful spiritual encouragement and strong confidence in overcoming the disaster,” the article stated. It emphasized that “all quarters of Hong Kong society have worked together to fight the disaster, demonstrating sympathy and solidarity.”
The article said that this tragedy has rekindled the “Lion Rock Spirit” — a symbol of the city’s perseverance, strength and solidarity. The special administrative region government’s establishment of a HK$300 million ($38.5 million) relief fund and its ongoing comprehensive investigations into the cause of the fire further illustrate the city’s responsible and proactive stance in facing adversity.
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Responding to these remarks, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the Executive Council and a Legislative Council member, said the article accurately reflects the sense of unity among Hong Kong people.
“Gang Aoping’s latest piece on Hong Kong’s rescue and emergency relief work in the wake of the tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po fully encapsulates the resilience and unity of Hong Kong people, under the leadership of Chief Executive John Lee, with strong support from the central government and neighboring cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” Ip said.
Tony Tse Wai-chuen, the lawmaker representing the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape functional constituency, praised the comprehensive relief response but also cautioned of the need for longterm safety reforms.
He echoed the article by suggesting that the city learn from Chinese mainland innovations, such as drone-assisted fire detection and response, to prevent future catastrophes. “It would also be highly advisable to create an independent body to oversee renovation safety with professional and enforcement powers,” Tse added. He is also a non-executive director of the Urban Renewal Authority, the city’s urban redevelopment agency.
The eight 32-story high-rises at Wang Fuk Court were under renovation as part of an urban renewal project when the fire occurred, engulfing seven of them.
Entrepreneur Bill Condon, who has lived in Hong Kong for 25 years, expressed his faith in the city’s collective resilience, and echoed the hopeful message from the central authorities that Hong Kong will rebuild and move forward with shared determination.
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Support has been pouring in from all directions to help the affected residents — from local communities and neighboring cities, including Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
Robert Deal and his wife rushed to a blood donation station, but found that the line was too long for them to join. “So we registered as volunteers on Facebook to provide temporary accommodation,” said Deal, founder of The Listening Room, a music shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, a 40-minute drive from the fire site.
Through pain and loss, the spirit of unity underscores a fundamental truth, according to Condon — an Irishman who considers Hong Kong his home — that the city embodies an enduring spirit of resilience, strength and courage.
