Residents of fire-hit Wang Fuk Court blocks can retrieve belongings from mid-April

Displaced residents from the seven fire-ravaged blocks of Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will be allowed to return to their flats for up to three hours to collect their personal belongings, with the first group to return on April 20.Authorities said on Friday that each household could register up to four people to return to a flat, who would be accompanied by police officers, government social workers and support staff.They added that there would be a “very slim” chance that residents of Wang Chi House, the only block of the estate largely undamaged by last November’s massive fire, could return to their homes this year, citing “unexpectedly complicated” repair works.Under the arrangement, residents will be able to return on select dates based on which housing block they lived in.There will be two four-hour sessions each day, running from 9am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 6.30pm. Residents will be assigned a specific date and session, and allowed to stay in their flats for up to three hours.Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk has said affected residents will only have one opportunity during each block’s return period to collect personal items. Photo: Karma LoDeputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said affected residents would only have one opportunity during each block’s return period to collect personal items.