HER x ALBA x Hong Kong SideBySide Support Tai Po Residents (Wang Fuk Court ) on 29 Nov 2025
On 26 November 2025, a catastrophic No. 5 alarm fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, becoming one of Hong Kong’s deadliest residential fires in recent decades and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. In the days that followed, temporary shelters – including 「善樓」 operated by Hong Kong SideBySide (香港善導會) – were opened to provide safe accommodation and basic support for affected families. On 29 November 2025, HER (Household Electronics Reborn) joined ALBA and the Hong Kong SideBySide (香港善導會) at 善樓 to support residents during this emergency transition period. HER provided repaired and safety‑checked household appliances to families who had lost essential items in the fire, helping them restore some normality and dignity in their temporary living spaces.
【Collaboration Synergy】
The relief efforts following the Tai Po fire demonstrated how community repair, large-scale appliance recycling, and social services can work together. HER focused on repairing, cleaning, and detecting small household appliances to ensure safe use for families in need. ALBA provided support to Tai Po fire victims with its expertise in large-scale logistics and recycling. The Hong Kong SideBySide understood the residents' urgent needs and coordinated on-site support and the distribution of supplies. By leveraging each partner's strengths, reliable appliances were quickly distributed to the most severely affected families. It fosters collaboration and a sense of caring in the community.
🌟 【Benefits】 🌟
For residents, the event provided not only practical support but also a sense of being seen and cared for. Receiving safe, working appliances – such as fans, rice cookers, and small cooking and storage equipment – helped families stabilise their daily routines during a very uncertain period. For HER and ALBA, the collaboration reinforced how repair and recycling can be mobilised rapidly in disaster response, complementing relief supplies.
At a broader level, the initiative highlights a model in which grassroots repair teams, environmental operators and social‑service organisations jointly strengthen community resilience, reduce waste and uphold dignity in recovery. It shows that after a large‑scale incident like the Tai Po fire, rebuilding lives is not only about rehousing, but also about restoring safe, functional homes with minimal environmental impact.
