The inferno that broke out on November 26 at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court claimed 161 lives, injured 79, and displaced almost 5,000 residents, most of whom are now living in hotels, youth hostels or transitional housing.
The government said on Friday that social workers had started polling flat owners on their long-term rehousing preferences, with subsidised homes in other districts and returning to the original site as early as 2035 after redevelopment, among nine options. Data collection is expected to finish by late January.
While the authorities have taken preliminary steps to address their housing concerns, experts warned that the insecurity posed challenges to psychological intervention, as most victims had little mental head space to deal with their trauma.
Opal Li Tin-yui, a clinical adviser to mental health charity Mind HK, said the group had assessed 120 Wang Fuk Court residents of the 600 living at five transitional housing projects operated by the Society for Community Organisation (SoCO).
She said that a few weeks ago, there was acute shock, disbelief and intense anxiety, but most residents were now “stable”, with their emotions numbed, set aside or suppressed.
