159 from HK’s missing list of fire confirmed to be safe

<article><section data-type="rtext"><img data-alt="Hong Kong residents come to the residential building fire site of Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po on November 30, 2025 to lay flowers and mourn those who perished in the blaze. Photo: VCG" src="//img.huanqiucdn.cn/dp/api/files/imageDir/7dfd9e1977ecf23b34affcb54cea3a70.jpeg?imageView2/2/w/750" />The Hong Kong government on Sunday expressed its gratitude for the central government's support as the deadly fire killed at least 146 as of Sunday 4 pm, with 159 residents from the missing persons list confirmed safe. In an official release on Sunday, the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (HKSAR) government said it wishes to express "its sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and all relevant departments of Guangdong Province for their staunch support and prompt assistance, including the provision of numerous pieces of necessary equipment to the HKSAR, such as drones, exoskeleton devices, protective gear, and medical supplies. This significantly assisted the relevant departments in their emergency response and the follow-up efforts." Chinese mainland authorities on Saturday activated a mechanism to coordinate emergency supplies for disaster response and relief, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM). A disaster aid package has been provided to the HKSAR government, including portable outdoor charging stations, heavy-duty conveyors, blowers, respirators, goggles, protective suits, headlamps, and waterproof boots, the MEM said. The National Fire and Rescue Administration further supplied protective boots and other materials to the HKSAR government, supplementing the previously provided emergency equipment which includes lighting drones, reconnaissance drones and fire rescue boots, according to the MEM. The deadly blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po on Wednesday afternoon. The HKSAR government said at a press conference on Sunday afternoon that the Police Casualty Enquiry Unit has continued its tracing efforts and has successfully contacted 159 residents from the missing persons list, all of whom have been confirmed safe. Chief Superintendent of the Casualty Enquiry Centre Tsang Shuk-kuen stated at the press conference that as of 4 pm Sunday, the death toll had risen to 146, including 18 bodies recovered by the police. Additionally, 79 people are injured. Police do not rule out the possibility that the death toll will continue to rise. At present, 54 bodies remain unidentified, and there are 100 cases where the victims cannot be traced, per the police spokesperson. Since Saturday, the HKSAR government has deployed more than 100 professional staff from the Housing Department and they have completed preliminary inspections of over 1,500 units across the six blocks. Hong Kong's Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) held a fundraiser show on Saturday evening. TVB General Manager Eric Tsang Chi-wai, together with a cultural company going by Fusheng, donated a total of HK$3 million ($385, 000), pushing the total amount of donations raised to HK$100 million, news site the Paper reported. Singers and renowned Cantonese opera artists have been invited to perform for the charity, including Benjamin Yuen Wai-ho, Sally Yeh Chien-wen and the new Miss Hong Kong Stacey Devina Chan. Liza Wang Ming-chun and other celebrities hosted the show. According to the TVB Weibo account, the charity show raised a total of HK$118 million on the night to support the fire accident of Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po. Free accommodation in place On emergency accommodation support for residents affected by the fire, as of Sunday afternoon, around 517 residents have been accommodated through the coordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau in youth hostels, camps or hotel rooms, per the HKSAR government release. Another 1,038 residents have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or the Housing Society. Furthermore, two shelters remain open for residents in need, reads the release. The HKSAR government will ensure that those affected due to the fire have free accommodation until they can rebuild their homes, Alice Mak Mei-kuen, secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR government, said on Sunday, the Xinhua News Agency reported. She also revealed on Sunday that the target of the HKSAR government is to relocate approximately 1,900 affected households to transitional housing within one to two weeks, with over 1,800 units already secured. Flexible arrangements will be introduced to meet the specific housing needs of each household, she said, per Xinhua. The HKSAR government's Deputy Financial Secretary, Michael Wong Wai-lun, who is overseeing emergency accommodation for residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, said on the same day that there are more than 2,000 units available in total for transitional housing and the Housing Society's dedicated resettlement estates, which is numerically sufficient to meet residents' needs. However, allocation depends on residents' preferences for different districts. Currently, the occupancy rate in Tai Po district is the highest, according to Wong. If units there are fully taken, he hopes residents will be willing to consider moving to units in other districts. Mak said earlier that the HKSAR government would arrange transitional housing for long-term residence, emphasizing that all support provided by the authorities is free of charge and that free shuttle transport will also be arranged. At the Sunday press event, police said that the structures of all the fire-affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po are currently assessed to pose no immediate danger. It is expected that search operations in all units will be completed within the day, per Hong Kong police. Sparing no effort Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po of the HKSAR Government stated on Sunday that the entire HKSAR government team, including departments such as the Home Affairs Department and the Social Welfare Department, is providing all-round and full support to the affected residents of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. This includes implementing a "one social worker per household" arrangement, under which dedicated social workers will follow up on the specific needs of each family and assist residents in coping with the various difficulties during this period. Chan also said the HKSAR government will spare no effort in handling the aftermath and resettling residents affected by the fire. Ensuring that they can spend the winter safely and securely is the top priority, followed closely by providing them with sustained and comprehensive support during the transitional period and beyond. He added that determining the cause of the fire is critical to preventing similar tragedies. The inter-departmental investigation task force held its first meeting and will conduct the investigation at full speed. Law enforcement agencies will also strictly punish any illegal acts uncovered in accordance with the law. The HKSAR government has also set up mourning stations in all 18 districts across Hong Kong from Saturday to Monday, where members of the public can sign condolence books to convey their deep sorrow for the deceased, per the HKSAR government website. Three personnel from the construction company who were arrested on November 27 have been released on bail. Police have accorded top priority to the case and are conducting a thorough and in-depth investigation, gathering evidence through various channels, according to the Hong Kong government. Jacky Ko Chung-kit, vice chairman of the Y.Elites Association, a Hong Kong group, told the Global Times on Sunday that the deadly blaze has claimed numerous lives in raging flames, bringing immense grief. Firefighters battled tirelessly to extinguish the blaze, the Central Government extended its care, the Hong Kong SAR government provided emergency assistance, and citizens across the city rallied in solidarity. Amid this merciless fire, people from all walks of life quietly gave what they could, Ko said. "From Tai Po neighbors to people across Hong Kong, from small shop owners, large corporations, to compatriots from the mainland, everyone stepped forward with warmth and support: delivering meal boxes and supplies, offering temporary shelter, or making donations. When disaster strikes one place, help comes from all directions. This outpouring of aid for the victims has truly shown the unbreakable spirit of unity," he said. </section></article>

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