Robots Help Old Hong Kong Residents Get Their Things Back

The fire that shook Tai Po last November left a high‑rise block in ruins and 168 people dead. Now, four months later, residents are trying to recover what they can from the wreckage. Fanny Mok, 59, has lived on the 13th floor for three decades. The blaze destroyed her home and forced her to stay in a small hostel far from the site. She says her knees hurt, she feels weak and breathes quickly. To climb the stairs back to her apartment, Mok is using robotic exoskeleton legs that lift and support her limbs. She has spent time training in a nearby building, learning how to move with the device. The exoskeletons are made by a Shanghai company called Hypershell and are lent to former residents who pass a safety test. An NGO, AidVengers Federation, oversees the program and reports that about 70 % of applicants succeed.The fire hit Wang Fuk Court, a complex built in the 1980s that once housed 4 600 people. More than a third were over 65, and many now live in temporary shelters across the city. The towers rise to 31 floors, so climbing is hard for many elderly people. From April 20 to May 4, residents will have a three‑hour window each day to gather their belongings. Some, like Betty Ho, 61, who lived on the 15th floor for 35 years, feel it is impossible to take everything back in such a short time. She hopes to bring home money and family photos that span her life, but she worries about letting go. The exoskeletons offer a practical solution for those who cannot lift themselves up the stairs, but the time limits and emotional weight of losing a home make the task daunting. As more people return, they will face the challenge of deciding what to keep and what to leave behind.