Summary
Overview
Reporter Julie Blussé investigates the aftermath of a devastating fire at Wong Fook Court in Hong Kong that killed 168 people and sparked intense debate about bamboo scaffolding. While the fire initially led authorities to blame and ban bamboo scaffolding, residents pushed back, defending this iconic Hong Kong tradition. The story reveals how bamboo scaffolding represents not just a construction method, but Hong Kong's cultural identity and autonomy in the face of increasing mainland Chinese influence.
The Fire at Wong Fook Court
When Julie Blussé arrived in Hong Kong to cover what she thought would be the aftermath of a fire, she found seven residential towers still burning more than 20 hours later. The 32-story buildings in the Taipo neighborhood were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding, which many immediately blamed for the fire's spread. However, local residents like 73-year-old Ma Ming insisted from the start that it wasn't the bamboo that caused the disaster, but rather the plastic netting draped around it.
- Seven towers at Wong Fook Court were still burning 20 hours after the fire started, all wrapped in bamboo scaffolding
- The flames raced up 32 floors in just 20 minutes, with firefighters quickly losing control
- Media immediately blamed bamboo scaffolding for helping the fire spread
- Local resident Ma Ming insisted it was the plastic netting, not bamboo, that caused the rapid spread
" I think they are nylon, the polyester fabrics, so that makes the fire quickly spread out. "
" Combustible scaffolding should be prohibited, period. I mean, we shouldn't use bamboo. This is an unnecessary risk for a catastrophic fire. "
Bamboo Scaffolding: Hong Kong's Iconic Tradition
Bamboo scaffolding is as iconic to Hong Kong as its ferries, dim sum, and neon signs. The practice is so prevalent that it accounts for roughly 80% of all scaffolding in the city, with entire skyscrapers often fully encased in bamboo. This ancient construction method has survived in Hong Kong while disappearing almost entirely from mainland China, where it was banned nationwide in 2022. The tradition is deeply embedded in tourist culture and even features prominently in action movies like Rush Hour 2.
- Bamboo scaffolding is featured on miniature tourist models of Hong Kong buildings
- Jackie Chan's Rush Hour 2 includes a famous action scene utilizing bamboo scaffolding
- Bamboo scaffolding was banned on China's mainland in 2022, making Hong Kong one of the last places preserving this practice
- Bamboo accounts for roughly 80% of all scaffolding in Hong Kong
" Therefore, I say the bamboo scaffolding is just like growing together with Hong Kong. "
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