Survivors of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades began returning to their damaged homes Monday to retrieve personal belongings, five months after the November blaze that killed 168 people and displaced thousands of residents.

The fire spread rapidly across seven of eight buildings in the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in the suburban Tai Po district. Starting Monday, displaced residents were allowed to return for up to three hours to collect salvageable items from their apartments, with the process expected to continue into early May.

Keung Mak, 78, who lived in the complex with his wife for over 40 years, said he expected little to remain after photos from social workers showed extensive damage. The ceiling of their first-floor apartment was burned so badly that steel rebar was visible, with broken tiles littering the floor and parts requiring structural reinforcement. "My heart is heavy, I'm very disappointed," Mak said before his return.

The return proved particularly challenging for older residents, who comprised over one-third of the approximately 4,600 people who lived in the complex before the fire. With elevators out of service, many elderly residents had been training to improve their fitness for climbing stairs in the 31-story buildings. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk reported that over 1,400 registered returnees were 65 or older.

Access to apartments was limited based on damage levels, with severely damaged units allowing only one person entry while others permitted up to four people. Many residents sought to retrieve sentimental items including family photos, letters, and personal mementos, though most expected their belongings to be destroyed or contaminated.

An ongoing inquiry into the fire's cause found that almost all fire safety devices in the buildings failed due to human error. The government has indicated that cost-effective repairs would be difficult and has proposed demolishing the seven damaged buildings while offering to buy back homeownership rights from victims. Some residents have questioned this approach, noting that inquiry data showed only half of the 1,700 apartments in the affected buildings sustained damage.