Hong Kong’s development minister has said there is no need for an across-the-board switch from bamboo to metal scaffolding, saying the former was not the cause of last month’s deadly Tai Po fire. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho’s stance on Thursday appeared to mark a shift from that of Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki,…
One week after its worst fire in decades, Hong Kong is searching for answers to the inferno that ripped through seven towers at Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, killing at least 156 people, injuring dozens and leaving around 30 unaccounted for. Illustration: SCMP By Victor Sanjinez, Davies Christian, Jeffie Lam, Andrew London,…
Watching his young children’s faces light up with excitement, William Li felt relief, but the deep ache in his chest was overwhelming. His son and daughter were happy he had saved their most treasured possessions – a mobile phone and an iPad – from the inferno that had just devoured their home in Hong Kong’s…
We have put together seven stories on everything you need to know about Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Hong Kong families endure unimaginable loss as fire death toll rises Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has torn apart families as…
If you visit Venice, Italy, this year and stumble upon a courtyard wrapped in a lattice of bamboo poles, you might think you’ve been transported to the streets of Hong Kong. But it isn’t a mirage – it’s the SAR’s official contribution to the Venice Biennale of Architecture. The installation stands out for its utilitarian…
In the concrete and steel jungle of Hong Kong, bamboo remains a widely used building material. The organic material is shaped into rapidly constructed scaffolding that covers new developments or supports workers doing building renovations. Bamboo scaffolding even forms entire venues for pop-up Cantonese opera theatres and cultural events. Hong Kong is one of the…