Hong Kong school opens at new Tai Po campus after deadly Wang Fuk Court blaze

Nearly 600 pupils and teachers from Tai Po Baptist Public School, which closed after the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire, will soon reunite at their newly renovated campus in Tai Po. The school, previously situated near the disaster site, opened its refreshed facilities at Fu Shin Estate on Saturday, bringing relief to students, parents, and staff after months spent split between two temporary locations.

The campus, which once housed CCC Kei Ching Primary School, underwent a HK$43.6 million (US$5.6 million) renovation, including updates to classrooms, toilets, the assembly hall, and basketball court, as well as new electrical and air-conditioning systems.

Education Secretary Christine Choi Yuk-lin officiated at the opening ceremony, praising the school's resilience and expressing excitement about the new beginning for teachers and students. "The relocation is a significant moment for all parties involved," she said, adding that it marks a new chapter for everyone involved.

The Wang Fuk Court blaze, the deadliest in Hong Kong in decades, claimed 168 lives and displaced around 5,000 residents last November. The school moved temporarily to support relief efforts, but managers later opted for a permanent relocation due to the distress of seeing the charred buildings. From December 2025 until recently, pupils were divided between Tai Po Government Primary School and NTWJWA Christian Remembrance of Grace Primary School.

Twelve-year-old Primary Six pupil Chloe Yang expressed her joy at returning to the renovated campus, particularly excited about the new climbing room and basketball court. Teacher Alice Lai felt happy to "come back home" and appreciated the guided tours to help pupils familiarize themselves with the new facilities. She still felt sentimental about leaving the old campus but was glad to return to a space that now felt safe and welcoming.

The new campus features an AI sports corridor for interactive exercise and six multifunction rooms for counseling, speech therapy, and play. A local resident, Hung, whose son Ethan is starting Primary Two, hopes her child will enjoy the new facilities and the positive environment. Principal Siu Ting highlighted the diverse range of facilities aimed at supporting whole-person development and mentioned ongoing partnerships with universities and NGOs to foster soft skills and extracurricular learning.

She acknowledged that the relocation impacted enrollment, with three Primary One classes this year compared to four last year, but emphasized the school's commitment to building trust and providing enriching experiences for students in their new home.