On November 30, 2025, a tragic news report from Hong Kong revealed the devastating fire in the Ho Fook Garden in Tai Po, which has claimed the lives of over a hundred people and left more than 200 missing. Three days after the fire broke out, on Saturday, November 29, the blaze in the seven buildings had been extinguished. Many citizens gathered at the scene to mourn with white flowers and to provide assistance with relief supplies.
Across from the Ho Fook Garden at Kwong Fook Recreation Ground, a large number of citizens placed flowers to pay their respects. Under one lamppost, there were numerous flowers and condolence cards, with one card bearing the message, “God bless Tai Po, God bless Hong Kong, may the departed rest in peace, may the survivors be strong.”
In the neighboring Kwong Fook Estate, many citizens came with white flowers and joined their hands in mourning. On benches, there were white roses left for memorial purposes, with notes saying “Take freely.”
During the firefighting efforts at Ho Fook Garden in Tai Po, 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho sacrificed his life. His base at the Shatin Fire Station lowered the flag on Saturday, and many citizens came to the station to lay flowers and show their support. The Fire Services Department is currently collecting donations for Ho Wai-ho’s family and accepting public contributions.
Ms. Ma and Ms. Leung visited the fire station in Shatin in the evening to offer flowers and condolences. They had just paid their respects to the victims of the fire in Tai Po and felt sorrowful upon hearing about Ho Wai-ho’s girlfriend, expressing regret.
On the day of the fire, Ho Wai-ho arrived at the scene around 3:01 p.m. and lost contact about half an hour later. He was found at an open space opposite the lift lobby of Wang Cheong House at around 4:01 p.m. with burn injuries to his face, in a state of unconsciousness. He was rushed to the hospital but sadly did not make it.
As the evacuees were gradually relocated to different locations, the atmosphere at Kwong Fook Estate eased as night fell. Some citizens held up signs saying “Keep quiet,” hoping not to disturb residents above with the support work at the relief station. Spontaneous morale-boosting activities were initiated by citizens, with signs, artworks, and notes seen everywhere.
A Form Six student distributed condolence cards in the hope of personally handing them to the tireless firefighters, saying, “They have really worked hard.” A bag of supplementary notes in Chinese and English, gifted by “Shatin Friends,” was also noted by journalists, intended for the 2026 DSE exam candidates.
A dedicated citizen known as “Love Messenger” created a “Cheer Up Wall,” inviting passersby and volunteers to write encouraging messages on sticky notes. He mentioned feeling the pain of the victims and the need for support and comfort, aiming to bring a semblance of solace to the affected. He observed that despite having places for the victims, they continuously returned, showing their reluctance to leave their homes.
Following the Hong Kong fire, numerous donations have poured in. According to Interface News, over 40 companies, foundations, and prominent individuals have contributed donations and supplies, totaling more than 600 million Hong Kong dollars to aid in rescue and post-disaster reconstruction efforts.
The Kowloon Le Shan Tong Society stated that their “Le Shan Care Fund” has raised 3,206,890 Hong Kong dollars, which has been distributed to victims at 3,000 dollars per household. Besides emergency financial aid, the fund has been used to purchase sleeping bags and other temporary supplies for the affected victims.
Furthermore, providing temporary shelter for the victims, the transitional housing at Le Shan Village in Tai Po has reached full capacity. The society will assist in referring victims to other transitional housing units. Le Shan Tong understands the residents’ desire to stay in their original community and is ready to arrange new accommodation swiftly if residents opt to vacate. Rent, water, and electricity fees will be waived, with the lease extended by one month, with further details to be announced later. Registered social workers from the society are providing counseling to residents.
Simultaneously, the Le Shan Tong Society is offering funeral assistance services, providing 10,000 dollars per household for the deceased. For inquiries, contact 2272-9810 (Le Shan Care Fund).