HONG KONG: It is the fourth day since the blaze in Lai Chi Kok that rendered more than 100 people homeless. While some of these villagers have acquired temporary homes, others are still seeking shelter.

Gwyneth Wong moved to Kau Wa Keng Old Village to live with her relatives three months ago. The family was assigned to a vacant unit in Shek Lei Estate as some 130 refugees were.

However, Wong was not entitled to the accommodation, because the government doesn't have her residential record.

"I've just moved to the village. How can I show the proof?" she said helplessly.

Wong's relative Chan Heung-wah was outraged at the government's arrangement.

"They (the government) insisted on having proof. Where can we find any? It's completely unreasonable. The government can't help us at all," Chan muttered.

"Where can she sleep tonight?" he queried in his frustration.

The construction worker was distressed when he recalled his own situation. He lost about HK$150,000 in the fire, with half of the home burnt.

He was also dissatisfied with the temporary home, where not even a bed was provided. All he wants is to go back to the old village.

"Even if my home is incinerated now, I can rebuild it. I don't want to move to other places," Chan said.

In late afternoon yesterday, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) delivered electric kettles and rice cookers, in addition to electric fans to the refugees.

Some villagers were obsessed about their future.

Zhong Bihua has been living with her 6-year-old son in the village since they immigrated to Hong Kong two years ago. All furniture, clothes and electrical appliances were burnt in the blaze.

She had no choice but to move to the temporary shelter in Shek Lei. But she is anxious as the refugees should move out three months later.

"Everything was gone suddenly. What can I do after three months?" Zhong sighed.

The HAD has set up an enquiry desk in Shek Lei Estate to offer assistance to the homeless, yet it refused to comment on individual cases.

Meanwhile, village representative Tsang Chun-fai urged the government to assign all villagers to other accommodations as soon as possible, as the village is a time bomb. It is overcrowded with more than 100 households and there is risk of overloading electricity.

"The villagers will move back to the danger zones and rebuild their homes. Does this mean that the government will not solve the problem until another fire causes casualties?" Tsang asked.

(HK Edition 10/06/2009 page1)