Translation Note: The Official News in Hong Kong (CPC) reported:
On the afternoon of November 26, (2025) a fire broke out in a number of residential buildings in Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po Housing Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong, causing heavy casualties. (Reporter Zhu Dan)
11月26日下午，香港新界大埔屋邨宏福苑多栋住宅楼发生火灾，造成重大人员伤亡。（总台记者 朱丹）
The racist Western media, whilst demeaning the deceased – and the Socialist System – is displaying its collective ignorance whilst supposedly poking fun at the name of the building concerned – “Wang Fuk Court” (宏福苑). Of course, this is the local “Cantonese” dialect in effect. Within Putonghua these ideograms translate as:
宏 – hong2 = Spacious
福 – fu2 = Happiness
苑 – yuan4 = Garden, Court, Pavillion, Palace
When I lived in Hong Kong, my family stayed in the “Tsuen Wan” (荃灣 – Quan Wan – or “Fragrant Plant Bay) area of the New Territories. There is a similar set up to the Tai Po (大埔 – Da Bu – or “Great Port”) area of the New Territories where this fire occurred (the two areas being about 20 miles apart) – with huge blocks of flats holding thousands of people – with each containing multiple floors (each block where I stayed possessed 10,000 per block comprising of 40 floors). Each flat has a wire-mesh security door to prevent break-ins – and a 24 hour desk manned on the ground floor at the entrance. The lifts always work. The interior and exterior of these buildings are kept perfectly clean – and everyone is secure.
Usually, at least in Tai Po, these residential blocks are arranged in groups of three – with each grouping possessing its own play area, basket ball court, and places to sit and meet on ground level. Most Chinese people walk, dance, or practice gongfu in the early morning. In Tai Po the tower-block in question was arranged as a group of “8” – another number considered “lucky” (ironically) within Chinese thought. However, as “4” is generally avoided (as “4” sounds like “death” in the Chinese language) – when “4” is doubled into “8” – it is thought that there is “double-protection” against death! Four = “四” (Si) – whilst death = “死”. The fire is said to have started on the ground floor of all 8 tower blocks and have spread upwards through the floors – assisted exteriorly by the bamboo scaffolding resting up against the outside walls. (Si)! ACW (29.11.2025)
Hong Kong, a bustling cosmopolitan city, has recently been dealt a heavy blow, whilst being cast with the heavy shadow by a sudden devastating fire. Up to now, the fire has ruthlessly claimed 128 lives (with 227 still missing), and behind every statistic is the loss and despair of a family.
When the fire broke out, the scene was like hell on earth. The raging fire spread rapidly, the acrid smoke billowed through the sky – suffocating as it spread. Residents fled in panic, screaming and crying – one after another. The firefighters arrived quickly, dressed in heavy protective clothing, rushing fearlessly into the flames and serving to their deaths – pitting their lives against the raging flames – trying to snatch every life back from the jaws of death.
The sheer destructive power of this fire was so powerful so as to cause huge casualties. At least 128 lives have been confirmed lost, among them were the elderly – who were supposed to enjoy their old age in the lap of their descendants. There are children who have not had time to experience the world well. There are also young people who died full of dreams. Their departure has plunged countless families into endless grief.
This fire is a wake-up call for safety. The development of the city cannot ignore fire safety, whether it is the design and construction of buildings, or daily safety management, there can be no slackness. Relevant departments should strengthen supervision to ensure that fire protection facilities are complete and effective, and evacuation channels are unimpeded.
The loss of at least 128 lives is an unbearable pain for Hong Kong. We observe a moment of silence for the victims and may they rest in peace in . There is hope that such a tragedy will not happen again, so that every family can be safe and happy, and the city of Hong Kong will be revitalized and grow once again.
Chinese Language Text:
《香港火灾：128个生命消逝的惨痛悲歌》|烈火|火海_网易订阅
香港，这座繁华的国际大都市，近日却被一场突如其来的火灾蒙上了沉重的阴影。截至目前，这场火灾已无情地夺走了128条鲜活的生命，每一个数字背后，都是一个家庭的破碎与绝望。
火灾发生时，现场宛如人间炼狱。熊熊烈火迅速蔓延，浓烟滚滚遮天蔽日，刺鼻的气味让人窒息。居民们在慌乱中四处奔逃，尖叫声、哭喊声此起彼伏。消防队员们迅速赶到，他们身着厚重的防护服，冲进火海，与肆虐的火焰展开殊死搏斗，试图从死神手中抢回每一个生命。
然而，这场火灾的破坏力太过强大，还是造成了如此巨大的伤亡。128条生命戛然而止，他们中有老人，本应在子孙绕膝中安享晚年；有孩子，还没来得及好好看看这个世界；也有年轻人，怀揣着梦想努力生活。他们的离去，让无数家庭陷入了无尽的悲痛之中。
这场火灾给我们敲响了安全的警钟。城市的发展不能忽视消防安全，无论是建筑的设计施工，还是日常的安全管理，都不能有丝毫的懈怠。相关部门应加强监管，确保消防设施完备有效，疏散通道畅通无阻。
128个生命的消逝，是香港难以承受之痛。我们为遇难者默哀，愿他们在天堂安息。也希望这样的悲剧不再重演，让每一个家庭都能平安幸福，让香港这座城市重新焕发生机与活力。
English Language Texts:
https://www.ecns.cn/m/news/cns-wire/2025-11-28/detail-ihexksem8477224.shtml
2025-11-28 Ecns.cn Editor：Zhang Jiahao
(ECNS) — The death toll from the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong has climbed to 128 as of Friday afternoon, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said at a press conference, according to media reports. Tang also warned that more bodies may still be found.
(By Zhang Jiahao)
https://m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/ecnszw/hexksem8476135.shtml
chinadaily.com.cn 2025-11-28 08:50:32 19.1万
John Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, announced on Thursday a series of measures in response to the deadly Tai Po blaze, including the establishment of a HK$300 million ($38.6 million) relief fund for affected residents, handing out a cash subsidy of HK$10,000 to the displaced families, providing 1,800 apartments to accommodate the affected, and creating a road map for replacing bamboo scaffolding in the city.
In a media briefing on Thursday afternoon, Lee said that all government celebratory events would be canceled or postponed and officials would suspend attendance at public activities to focus on relief efforts. The government will arrange memorial activities, including flying flags at half-staff on government buildings, holding memorial services and setting up condolence books, with details to be announced later.
The fire broke out at 2:51 pm on Wednesday in the eight-building Wang Fuk Court estate, which was undergoing renovations and has nearly 2,000 units. Flames quickly spread across seven of the eight towers. After the blaze burned for more than 27 hours, Lee announced that it had been brought “under control”.
The fire had left 75 people dead and 77 injured by 10 pm on Thursday, according to the Fire Service Department. Speaking at a news briefing earlier on Thursday, Lee said that 279 people were missing.
Police arrested two male directors of a registered contractor responsible for the maintenance works, Wang Yip Construction Co, and one male engineering consultant early Thursday on suspicion of manslaughter. They are currently detained for investigation.
Accompanied by several senior officials, Lee inspected the scene of the blaze on Thursday afternoon and received a briefing from Deputy Director of Fire Services Yeung Yan-kin.
Meeting with the media after the inspection, Lee said the authorities will immediately begin a citywide inspection of all residential estates that are under renovation to check the safety of the scaffolding and construction materials. He also announced that authorities will create a road map for replacing the city’s bamboo scaffolding with metal scaffolding.
Of the 1,800 apartments secured for displaced residents, 1,000 are youth hostel and hotel rooms throughout the city, which will provide temporary housing for one to two weeks. The number of participating hotels is increasing.
A social worker will be assigned to provide dedicated support to each affected household.
A working group from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday morning to assist in Hong Kong’s disaster relief efforts. The delegation is led by the office’s deputy head, Nong Rong. Xu Qifang, the office’s executive deputy director, also departed for Hong Kong on Thursday afternoon.
Zhou Ji, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Nong visited the Tai Po Community Center and the Prince of Wales Hospital to offer sympathy to fire victims and meet with rescue members and relief personnel.
The Liaison Office pledged full support for the SAR government’s ongoing rescue efforts, casualty care and investigation of the blaze, expressing confidence in Hong Kong’s unity during this difficult time.
Lee said the SAR government has submitted a list of needed supplies to mainland authorities, including items such as drones, high-reach ladders and conveyor belts. He also expressed hope for prompt assistance from the mainland in areas such as medical support and laboratory testing materials.
Lee expressed gratitude for the support from the Chinese mainland, noting that the eight drones and two long-endurance drones provided by Shenzhen had offered effective assistance in the rescue efforts.
“We share in the collective grief and must stand strong together through this difficult time,” Lee said. “Let us channel our sorrow into resilience, maintaining social stability and working toward recovery.”
The Tai Po District Office opened a 10th temporary shelter on Thursday at the Hong Kong Children and Youth Services Jockey Club Tai Po Integrated Children &Youth Services Center, with more than 500 residents already staying at the other nine temporary shelters opened since Wednesday.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption established a special task force on Thursday, and has launched a full investigation into the incident.
A total of eight Legislative Council election forums scheduled from Thursday to Sunday will be suspended. Lee said the government will “comprehensively assess the situation after completing the first phase of coordination before making any decisions regarding election arrangements”.
Local and mainland businesses have pledged donations for the Tai Po fire relief efforts. Major contributions include an initial HK$100 million in emergency aid from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, HK$80 million from the Li Ka Shing Foundation and HK$50 million from The Community Chest of Hong Kong.
Local residents also volunteered to help at the site and provide supplies. Among them was a 70-year-old whose surname is Tso and who has lived in the community for four decades. “I just want to help as much as I can,” said Tso.
Editor: Zhang Dongfang
https://m.chinanews.com/wap/detail/ecnszw/hexksem8477171.shtml
Ecns.cn 2025-11-28 15:00:21 18.8万
(ECNS) — Two directors of an engineering consultancy company were arrested by Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Friday for the fire that broke out in Wang Fuk Court, a residential area in Tai Po of Hong Kong, according to the ICAC.
The ICAC formed a task force on Thursday to investigate the maintenance project of the residential area over potential corruption. Following this, it took the two directors into custody and conducted evidence searches on Friday.
Three men have been arrested for the accident on Thursday. As of 6 a.m. on Friday, the fire has killed 94 people, including a firefighter.
(By Zhang Dongfang)
Editor: Zhang Dongfang
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 