Excess items thrown away, but department acknowledges support from residents
EMILY TSANG, TONY CHEUNG AND CHRISTY LEUNG
UPDATED : Friday, 24 June, 2016, 12:45pm
The fire department said the blaze on fourth floor had been contained, and half of the fire on the third floor had been put out. Photo: Edward Wong
Dozens of boxes of food and cups of iced lemon tea donated by the public to the firefighters have gone to waste as the fierce battle against the Ngau Tau Kok fire continues for the third day on Friday.
The pan-fried beef noodles, Singaporean fried rice noodles and steamed pork rice in plastic boxes, as well as the iced beverages such as tea and water, were carried to the frontline by enthusiastic citizens to show their gratitude towards the crew.
For hours, the packages lay unopened on the ground under the summer sun in front of the burning building, until several cleaners loaded them onto a rubbish trolley and pushed it away.
Gifts included food such as rice and noodles, as well as tea and other beverages. Photo: Dickson Lee
The firefighters who had been coming in and out of the industrial building, from which white smoke continued to billow, were dining on supplies delivered by a truck from the Fire Department.
“There is too much food, we cannot finish it. You are welcome to have some too,” a firefighter told thePost’s reporter when asked why there was food and beverage in the middle of the road.
“We thank the public for their generosity.”
A student, who refused to give her name, donated a large bag of cooling pads. She said she brought them to show her support, but did not say how much the pads cost.
Police officers at the cordon said citizens were giving all sorts of items to the fire crew, such as cake, bread, packaged juice, cup noodles, and a lot of bottled water.
The donations were piling up together with the official resources provided to the crew at their resting area.
Membes of the public continue to bring gifts for the firefighters. Photo: Emily Tsang
Many Hongkongers had brought gifts to the scene over the past few days.
Agnes Chow Ting, student activist and a member of now dissolved pro-democracy group Scholarism, wrote on her Facebook page on Thursday saying that she had given a dozen bottles of water to the firefighters and urged the public to do the same to show their support.
But her post immediately drew criticism saying that the move would only obstruct the crew.
One internet user wrote: “The firemen do not lack food and water, they are not disaster victims. Just help them by getting out of their way!”
Another commenter suggested support should be shown by donating money to the family members of the two deceased firemen.
Two firefighter unions will hold a press conference at 2.30pm to address issues such as donations.
Fire Services Department Staffs General Association chairman Jerry Nip Yuen-fung told the Post that he would not call for residents to stop bringing food or water for firefighters.
“We welcome their food and drinks, and our frontline crew can feel the residents’ support and love. We are just worried that they could get hurt, because I was there on Thursday, and the pavement was [slippery],” Nip said.
Asked if he was worried about food being wasted, Nip said: “It is difficult to say if anything would be wasted.”
Donations and supplies have piled up at the site. Photo: Emily Tsang
Fire Services Officers Association executive committee member Mak Kam-fai thanked the public for their donation of food and drinks, but said there were enough supplies at the scene.
On Friday morning, the fire department said the blaze on fourth floor had been contained, and half of the fire on the third floor had been put out.
At about 10.30am, several teams of firefighters were seen inside the building by the window, patrolling on the third floor.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1980632/overwhelming-generosity-fire-crew-unable-finish-food-and
