Nicholas Tse and Charmaine Sheh help people in apartment fire, 2 actors cause outrage

The terrible fire that occurred on the afternoon of November 26, 2025 at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po district, Hong Kong, left all residents here in dire straits.

At the complex of 8 buildings with nearly 2,000 apartments, the fire quickly spread, destroying many apartments, causing thousands of people to lose their homes, and many families to lose all their life savings.

One of the heartbreaking stories recorded was that of two famous people, Xie Jiayi and Zhang Man, whose house (which was on fire) was completely burned down. The lost property belonged to Xie Jiayi’s grandmother and Zhang Man’s grandfather; fortunately, their relatives managed to escape before the fire engulfed them.

The apartment fire was the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades.

Faced with the heavy damage, Hong Kong artists quickly stepped in to help. Many big names in showbiz such as Nicholas Tse, Charmaine Sheh,... called for donations not only in money, but also in transporting necessities, blankets, and clothes to the evacuation sites. Some drove their own trucks to deliver relief goods; others opened their restaurants all night to give free food to the homeless.

Besides their practical support actions, some artists who are also actors have caused controversy when they made statements that were considered "insensitive" or "profiteering" right after the tragedy.

In it, Lam Tu Hanh posted a post calling for buying insurance to "manage risks for yourself, your family and your soul" after the fire. This statement was immediately heavily criticized by the online community because it was thought that he was taking advantage of other people's pain to sell insurance.

Another actor, Wong Hei, was also criticized for saying that after the disaster, landlords renting less than 40 square meters "can freely increase rents," a statement seen as lacking sympathy for those who have lost their homes and are in need of a place to live.

The affected residents are many elderly and middle-aged people who are facing an uncertain future. More than a third of the apartment complex’s residents are said to be middle-aged and elderly; the loss of their homes and lifelong assets, combined with the loss of loved ones, has left many families without any means of support.

The Wang Fuk Court disaster raises big questions about building safety, construction materials and apartment responsibilities in densely populated cities like Hong Kong. When the fire broke out on outdoor scaffolding, the combustibility of the materials and the high population density made the consequences spread uncontrollably.

The initial toll of at least 55 dead, with hundreds missing or injured, is just the beginning of a collective grief. Many survivors have now lost not only their homes but also their loved ones and possessions. The immediate challenge of resettlement and stabilizing their lives is as daunting as the emotional trauma left behind by the tragedy.

Amidst the loss and grief, the solidarity of artists, the relief community and the people is perhaps a small but necessary source of comfort to help the victims feel less lonely. But it is also the controversial statements from celebrities that make the public ask the question: at a time like this, what is truly meaningful action, and what is just insensitive words?

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