A devastating fire in the eight buildings of the Grand Fortune Garden in Tai Po, Hong Kong has tragically claimed the lives of at least 159 people. Among the survivors is a 71-year-old man named Mr. Wong, whose wife remains missing, one of the 30 people who are unaccounted for. The heartbreaking scene of Mr. Wong standing in front of the community, raising his arms in despair and shouting in anguish, captured by a Reuters photographer, has circulated widely, becoming the most iconic image of the disaster. He was heard shouting, “My wife is still inside!” A week after the tragedy, Mrs. Wong’s whereabouts are still unknown and the fire has become the deadliest in Hong Kong since 1948.
In a follow-up report by Reuters, Mr. Wong’s son expressed his hope that sharing their family’s story would bring some healing. Mr. Wong and his wife lived in the Grand Fortune Garden residential building, where they would take turns walking to the school to pick up their granddaughter. On the day of the fire, November 26, when Mr. Wong went to pick up his granddaughter, he learned about the fire and rushed back, only to find their building engulfed in flames. Pointing at the burning building, he cried out, “My wife is still inside!”
His son shared that his father, a retired maintenance worker and licensed plumber, had expressed concerns about the safety of the building, having taken measures such as removing foam from the windows and installing fire-resistant panels. However, despite his precautions, the tragic events unfolded beyond his control. The latest reports and photos from Reuters show Mr. Wong outside the fire scene, emotionally distraught, shouting for his wife and even collapsing at one point, requiring assistance from multiple police officers.
The photographer Tyrone Siu, who captured the emotional moment, described it as a photo that tells everything. The immense grief and helplessness felt by Mr. Wong transcends borders and touches the hearts of people worldwide. The Grand Fortune Garden fire has become the worst fire in Hong Kong in over half a century, with many unanswered questions and uncertainties looming.
Four days after the tragedy, the National Security Office in Hong Kong issued a statement alleging that “anti-China troublemakers and malicious elements are still active” and expressed support for the Special Administrative Region government in punishing those who seek to exploit the disaster for chaos. In the following days, Hong Kong’s National Security Department arrested three individuals on suspicion of “incitement,” including Miles Kwun, the founder of the Tai Po Grand Fortune Garden Fire Concern Group, who had initiated a petition for an independent investigation, along with former Tuen Mun District Councillor Cheung Kam-Hung and a female volunteer from Tai Po.
An expert from the University of George Washington Law School’s Asia Law Center noted that these actions highlight the government’s emphasis on crisis management, transitioning from disaster response to national security protection. The crackdown on grassroots movements and the arrests aimed at silencing dissent reflect the authorities’ discomfort with spontaneous community actions and accountability-seeking initiatives. Miles Kwun and Cheung Kam-Hung have been granted bail pending further investigation, as reported by local media.