Her family had lived in Wang Chi House, the only block in Wang Fuk Court left physically unscathed. But even then, returning home was not an option.
“Your home is still intact and nothing happened to it, yet you still feel as if it has already been destroyed,” she said.
For her father, who lived there for 40 years, the displacement has been especially difficult. Decades of routine that included morning tea, familiar faces and daily walks were abruptly severed.
“Every day he asks: ‘When are we going back?’,” Brutus added.
Weeks after the fire, the family was eventually offered a unit at a transitional housing project – part of the government’s relief scheme for displaced residents.
For Luzar Wu and his family, they are mulling housing options in Fanling district – 11 minutes by train from Tai Po – under the resettlement scheme.
In February, the government announced it will not rebuild the seven damaged towers at Wang Fuk Court. Instead, it will acquire them and offer residents two options: A cash payout or a flat exchange.
Residents of Wang Chi House were initially left out of the scheme. But as many expressed preliminary interest to join, the government said it will consider including the block if 75 per cent of residents agree to sell their property titles by end-June.
The Wu family estimated that their burnt flat is valued around HK$3.5 million under the conditions of the scheme. Regardless of either option, they said they still need to top up funds to get a similar-sized apartment.
