Hong Kong authorities have insisted that the three-hour time limit is sufficient for residents of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court to retrieve their belongings, with discretion to be exercised for those requesting a second entry.
Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said on Saturday that although each household could register up to four people to enter the building, only one person would be allowed into severely damaged flats owing to safety concerns.
“With four people and three hours allowed, they would have 12 hours in total to pack,” said Cheuk on a radio programme. “I don’t think saying goodbye to your home requires that much time…. And residents probably know where their belongings are.”
The government announced the day before that residents of Wang Fuk Court could retrieve their belongings from April 20, depending on which housing block they lived in.
Cheuk said that allowing more time for entry would delay the overall schedule, meaning some residents would have to wait longer to return to their flats.
He said about 300 flats were severely damaged and could admit only one or two people at a time, though the four registered members of a household could take turns.
The remaining 1,400 or so households could have four people entering together.
