by Alessandra De Poli

The devastating fire that destroyed much of a public housing complex in Tai Po has exposed the fragility of Hong Kong's housing system, characterised by overcrowding, negligently managed construction sites, and thousands of senior citizens and domestic workers trapped in hard-to-evacuate high-rise buildings. PIME missionary Fr Franco Mella slams the authorities for the way they manage the real needs of the population. Meanwhile, fears are growing that the tragedy could reignite tensions with Beijing on the eve of the 7 December local elections.

 

Hong Kong (AsiaNews) – At least 65 people have died and hundreds are missing after a fire devastated yesterday the Hong Fuk Court high-rise public housing complex (also known as Wang Fuk Court), located in Tai Po, a district in Hong Kong's New Territories.

As reports on casualties seem set to worsen, the incident can be considered the worst tragedy to have hit the city in its recent history, possibly forcing Hong Kong’s pro-China authorities to postpone the upcoming elections scheduled for 7 December.

The complex, built in 1983, housed 4,600 residents in nearly 2,000 units. The flames devastated seven of the eight 31-story high-rises that were under renovation.

“The fire was extinguished in four buildings, but three continue to burn and the upper floors have not been reached,” said Fr Franco Mella, 77, a PIME missionary who has lived in the city for some time, speaking to AsiaNews.

The tragedy is linked to the housing crisis in Hong Kong, where housing availability is extremely limited and rents are very high.

Many young people, for example, live in so-called coffin homes, niches measuring about eight square metres created by dividing larger apartments.

“I share the distress of these people because in 1999 I too moved into one of these apartments in a large complex not far from the scene of the fire," explained the missionary, who is originally from Milan, Italy.

“Three or four people can live in a room suitable for one person. Two years ago, the elevators in my complex broke down, and social workers had to climb 30 flights of stairs to bring food to the elderly on the top floors. If a fire breaks out, of course, you can climb to the top floor, but it's difficult to survive.”

Senior citizens and disabled people, in particular, have no way of escaping in these conditions, and nearly 40 per cent of Wang Fuk Court residents are 65 or older, often including foreign domestic workers, who by law must reside with their employers. Eight of them are still missing, while two Indonesian women caring for elderly families have died and two others were injured.

"There is a lot of anger among people over the government's management of housing, which doesn't meet the real needs of the people," noted Father Mella. “Most of the families in the complex bought their flat about 40 years ago, but the building still belongs to the housing authority.”

Many residents are probably Christian because Tai Po parish, long entrusted to PIME, is located near the complex. However, rescue teams have not yet reached the upper floors as the fire continues to ravage the high-rises after more than 24 hours.

At first, the blame was pinned on the bamboo scaffolding that covered a building to facilitate maintenance work that began last year. Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, said the government is considering a review of the use of bamboo scaffolding, proposing its possible replacement with metal structures.

The government's attention, however, has since shifted to negligence and corruption related to the construction company responsible for the work, Hong Yip Construction Engineering, which has a long history of mismanagement.

Fire Chief Yeung Yan-kin confirmed that the use of polystyrene boards blocking windows – a practice he described as "uncommon” – was a key factor in the rapid spread of the flames, as this material is highly flammable.

Residents had already criticised Hong Yip's management over issues such as discarded cigarette butts and the use of such boards, which had fuelled fears of a possible fire.

This morning, police arrested three men, including two company directors and a technical consultant, on charges of manslaughter.

At the same time, the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) set up a special task force “to conduct a full investigation into "possible corruption related to major renovation works.”

Back in 2007, former Hong Yip Construction shareholder Cho Tak-kwong was sentenced to 18 months in prison for bribing a public housing official to secure a contract.

The company also has a poor safety record, with at least 17 violations and fines of approximately HK$ 340,000 (US$ 43,600) since 2016.

Despite these serious violations (not to mention fines levied in August 2023), the company managed to secure the HK$ 330 million maintenance contract for Hong Fuk Court in early 2024, while it was still awaiting licence renewal.

The seriousness of the tragedy and public anger "could serve as a spark" for new opposition movements or protests, suggests Father Mella, who has fought for a long time for the rights of young people unjustly imprisoned.

Currently, the Hong Kong government is preparing local Legislative Council elections on 7 December.

As a result of the fire, government propaganda activities to promote voter participation have been suspended, but Chief Executive John Lee has not yet made a decision on whether to postpone the elections or not.

Since Beijing imposed the national security law in 2020, democratic governance has declined in Hong Kong as has the protection of human rights.

After silencing pro-democracy voices, the local pro-China government has approved only "patriotic" candidates and inundated the city with flyers to promote voting and increase turnout, which was just 30 per cent in the last election in 2021.

In the former British colony, people have also been waiting for months to see the outcome of Jimmy Lai’s latest trial. Despite his age, 78, the pro-democracy media mogul has been in prison for years even though he suffers from diabetes.

Meanwhile, both the Hong Kong government and the Chinese Communist Party have moved quickly to show their concern for the tragedy.

But for Father Mella, “we will understand in the coming days” whether the Tai Po tragedy will be just another news item or the spark of fresh social tensions.

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• hong kong
• china
• communist party
• john lee
• fire
• hong fuk court
• bamboo scaffolding