Carrying luggage and weeping, residents of the sole tower spared in the deadly blaze at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po returned to their flats on Wednesday to collect valuables, warm clothes, personal documents, home appliances and pets.

Some of those who returned to Wang Chi House said they felt heartbroken going back even though their flats were largely unaffected.

They arrived individually and also by shuttle buses, accompanied by government personnel.

Two members of each household were allowed to enter with government workers between 9am and 9pm and had 90 minutes to gather their belongings.

Retiree Manly Yu Chun-cheung, 71, and his wife packed up clothes, personal documents, passports, bank cards, jewellery and their marriage certificate. He said the process went smooth and he had been given enough time.

Yu said the condition of the flat, where he had lived for about 40 years, was largely the same as before, except the door was destroyed.