B.C. community holds vigil to mourn deaths, losses in deadly Hong Kong fire

Family members of more than 150 people who died when seven highrises burned in Hong Kong last week "deserve the truth," said Phoebe Wong, who attended a memorial in Vancouver late Sunday for those killed. 

Wong said she feels heartbroken and news of the fire hurts for those who have roots in Hong Kong, where she lived before moving to Vancouver a few years ago.

"Hong Kong people are so upset about it because we found out it's not purely an accident," said Wong, who was among the crowd holding a white placard with the words: 'You can ask me about the fire in Hong Kong.'

"And we believe it's a chain of corruption behind it, and it's a chain of mistakes from the government that led to these results."

Wong was among hundreds of people who lined up around the Vancouver Art Gallery to pay their respects to those who died and the thousands left homeless by the fire.

Candles, notes of condolences and hundreds of bouquets of white flowers — a symbol of mourning in the Chinese culture — were placed on the gallery's steps in the silent gathering.

People bowed after placing their offering, many wiping away tears. 

Officials in Hong Kong said last Wednesday's fire started in netting covering bamboo scaffolding around one building in the Wang Fuk Court complex, before spreading to the other residential towers. 

Authorities said some of the netting on the buildings that had been under renovation didn't meet their code for fire safety and Hong Kong's anti-corruptions agency has arrested 14 people.

Wong said she showed up not only to mourn the loss but to advocate for truth around the cause of the fire, saying media outlets in China and the Chinese government were spreading misinformation, blaming the cause on the bamboo scaffolding placed around the buildings, a traditional practice used for decades in Hong Kong.

Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s chief secretary, said investigators collected 20 samples of the netting from all areas, including higher floors, and found seven failed safety standards, suggesting contractors skimped to make greater profits.

"They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives,” Chan told reporters in Hong Kong.

Wallace Cheng and Ian Wong attended the memorial and said they had been closely following the latest developments, which made them feel extremely sad.

Cheng said he lived in the Taipo District, where the Wang Fuk Court complex is located, before settling in Vancouver with his family. 

He said he was filled with sorrow and grief watching the fire and imagined the residents who couldn't escape the buildings.

"I'm praying for all those families," said Wallace, 15.

Wong moved from Hong Kong to Vancouver two years ago and said it's devastating to see how much the city has changed since 2019.

Hong Kong experienced months-long, large-scale pro-democracy protests in 2019. 

Wong said the city he grew up in used to be open to debate with the government and residents wouldn't shy away from holding authorities accountable, but the political atmosphere has changed. 

"I feel like it's not Hong Kong anymore," said Wong. 

Kenny Chiu, a former Conservative member of Parliament in Richmond, B.C., wiped away tears after placing flowers at the memorial.

Chiu said the fire has led him to reflect on the privileges of living in Canada, where people in power can be held accountable and are under scrutiny by the media.

"If we keep on ignoring and taking our democracy for granted, as happened in Hong Kong, there is no guarantee that it will not happen in Canada again," said Chiu, who moved from Hong Kong to Canada about 40 years ago.

Global Affairs Canada estimates there are about 300,000 Canadians living in Hong Kong. The agency said that it's not aware of any Canadian citizens affected by the fire. 

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nono Shen