The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced at a press conference on Saturday afternoon that 144 individuals previously listed as missing in the Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire have been confirmed safe.
The police have completed searches of the two buildings involved in the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and have not found any bodies.
Hong Kong authorities set up an inter-departmental fire investigation task force and held its first meeting on Friday, according to an official statement on Saturday. The task force focuses on two main objectives: the causes of the fire and how it spread and the factors that led to heavy causalities.
Led by the Fire Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, the task force members comprise of representatives from the police, the uildings Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Independent Checking Unit under the Housing Bureau, Labor Department and the Government Laboratory, as well as fire engineering professionals, according to the statement.
The deadly five-alarmed fire that broke out at a residential compound Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po caused at least 128 deaths as of 3 pm on Saturday, according to the press conference jointly held by multiple departments on Saturday.
Police have established a casualty enquiry unit and confirmed 83 injuries, according to the press conference.
There are still 150 residents who have not yet been contacted; in about 100 of these cases, the information provided is fragmentary — for example, the reporting parties have not been in contact for many years or only know the person by a nickname.
The Police Disaster Victim Identification Unit (DVIU) also entered the cordoned-off area on Friday to search for any human remains, bodies, or ashes. They used personal belongings, physical characteristics and DNA to assist in confirming the identities of the deceased, according to local media reports.
The police have taken over the scene to carry out a full investigation and follow-up work, according to the press conference.
Officers entered the building to collect evidence in order to determine the causes. A total of 600 DVIU personnel were deployed and entered two buildings engulfed in the fire. The search operation has come to an end with no bodies being found, according to the press conference.
As of 3 pm on Saturday, the “Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Relief Fund” established by the HKSAR government has received HK$800 million in public donations. Together with the government’s HK$300 million in seed funding, the fund now totals HK$1.1 billion to support residents and various related relief efforts, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak said during the press conference.
The HKSAR government on Saturday mourned the victims of the fire and expressed profound condolences.
At 8 am, the HSKAR Chief Executive John Lee, together with principal officials, non-official members of the Executive Council and civil servants, observed a three-minute silence at the HKSAR government’s headquarters to pay solemn tribute to those who tragically lost their lives in the fire.
From Saturday until December 1, the Home Affairs Department will set up condolence points in all 18 districts for the public to sign condolence books to mourn for the victims.
During the mourning period, national flags and regional flags displayed at all government buildings (including offices of the HKSAR Government outside Hong Kong) will be flown at half-staff. All celebration activities organized by the HKSAR government will be cancelled or postponed as appropriate.