HK brands unite to support residents affected by Tai Po fire

Several Hong Kong brands have stepped in to support residents affected by the Wang Fuk Court structure fire in Tai Po, which has tragically claimed at least 83 lives and left dozens unaccounted for.

The blaze, which burned for more than 19 hours, has resulted in widespread devastation. More than seventy people remain in critical condition and more than 900 people have taken refuge in temporary shelters. As of 6am today, the fire in four of the seven blocks is under control, with rescue efforts ongoing.

Authorities have pledged a full investigation, including criminal probes, after the discovery of styrofoam materials inside the buildings, which may have accelerated the fire’s spread.

Hong Kong chief executive John Lee visited displaced residents at the Tai Po Community Centre and expressed condolences to affected families.

“I take this incident very seriously,” he said. “The first and foremost task is to extinguish the fire and rescue the trapped residents. The second is to treat the injured, and the third is to provide support for the aftermath. Following that, we will conduct a comprehensive investigation.”

To help residents stay connected, CHARGESPOT is offering 160 hours of free power bank rentals across all Tai Po stations. Residents are encouraged to return the batteries quickly so others in need can access them.  Circle K is also providing free phone chargers at 12 of its Tai Po locations.

Telecommunications company csl has provided various temporary services for affected HKT customers, including free loan of ChargeSpot power banks and free in-store charging. It is also offering additional free local mobile data for affected 1O1O, csl, and Club SIM customers, along with free access to csl x online 5G private broadband service. Additionally, the csl Tai Po store extended its service hours yesterday (26 November) until 11pm.

Another telecommunications company, 3 Hong Kong, is providing free loans of backup phones and free SIM cards at its Tai Po store to help affected residents stay updated and connected with their families. The store extended its service hours yesterday until midnight and will open early today (27 November) at 8am. 

In the retail and dining sectors, local businesses and restaurants are stepping up to support affected residents by providing free meals and essential supplies to assist those in need. McDonald's offered free food and beverages to residents affected by the fire at three of its 24-hour locations in Tai Po yesterday. It is also providing 1,000 portions of breakfast to five temporary shelters in Tai Po today. 

Uni-China Group's dim sum brand, Bao Dim Sin Seng, has also shown its support for affected residents by donating 2,000 steamed buns and 2,000 portions of steamed rice.

AS Watson's retail brands, including Watsons Hong Kong, ParknShop, Fortress and Watsons Water, are coordinating the delivery of essential supplies to temporary shelters. They worked together yesterday to deliver nearly 20,000 essential supplies to temporary shelters, including distilled water, food, daily necessities, charging accessories, and other items to support those impacted.

Starting at 1pm today, the group has also set up “care service stations” at designated stores in the Tai Po district, offering device charging, free document printing and scanning services. Free distilled water, hot water, and heat packs are also available for those in need to use or collect.

Local apparel brand The Korner has also shown its support for affected residents by distributing 1,500 pairs of shoes and clothing. It is also inviting netizens to donate essential items such as towels, slippers, medicine, and socks at any of its stores across Hong Kong. The team will then collect these donations and deliver them to the affected residents.

Meanwhile, DBS Hong Kong has donated HK$10 million to the Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) in response to the fire, standing in solidarity with the community during this time of immense grief and hardship. The donation will enable HKRC to provide immediate relief support to affected families, including clothing, water and warm food, temporary shelter, daily necessities such as hygiene and sanitary products, as well as mental health services to help those coping with trauma.

The government has also suspended all promotional and campaign activities, as well as forums related to the upcoming Legislative Council election on 7 December.

Lee emphasised that the government is fully committed to addressing this major disaster, placing top priority on effectively managing the incident. Decisions regarding other matters will be made in a few days, once efforts have been consolidated.

Photo courtesy: Facebook account @Vanessa Chan, @Lee Frances

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