'I'll be waiting, till we meet again in our next life': Fiancée of HK firefighter who died battling Tai Po fire

A 37-year-old Hong Kong firefighter, Ho Wai Ho, passed away while battling the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po on Nov. 26, 2025.

Ho had planned to tie the knot with his girlfriend of almost 10 years, Kiki, in December 2025, when the tragedy struck, reported Hong Kong news outlet Wen Wei Po.

On Dec. 19, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department held a funeral with full honours for Ho, with Hong Kong's chief executive John Lee in attendance.

Fiancée's eulogy

At Ho's funeral, Kiki bid him farewell in tears, gently touching his casket, reported HK01.

She also revealed in her eulogy posted on her Threads page that she had put a wedding ring on Ho's finger:

"I have helped throw your graduation ceremony in this life. Are you pleased with how it turned out?

For our wedding in our next lives, I shall entrust the task to you.

I have helped you put on our wedding ring. Please, please, please remember to come and find me.

After that, we will hold on to each other, live an ordinary but peaceful life, and grow old together.

Wait for me."

Kiki concluded her eulogy by citing lyrics from Hong Kong singer Jay Fung's "Not too far away":

"Some day, my wildest dream will become reality,

Even if I will need to wait till our next lives, I am willing to wait — for our kiss after our reunion, to grow old together,

Tears are just as sweet as laughters with you.

I hope to spend the rest of my life with you.

Let love lead us back to each other.

The further we are physcially apart, the closer we are in our souls.

We will, eventually, meet each other again"

Deadliest fire in Hong Kong in at least 63 years

BBC called the Wang Fuk Court fire the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in at least 63 years.

As of Dec. 20, the death toll had risen to 161, with dozens of others injured, reported HK01.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Hong Kong authorities said the use of unsafe materials by the construction company renovating the building blocks might have led to the rapid spread of the fire.

As of Dec. 18, the Hong Kong police had arrested 15 people involved in the renovation works for suspected manslaughter, reported HKTKWW.

Another 14 individuals involved in the renovation works had been arrested by the city's Independent Commission Against Corruption for suspected corruption.

Top images via Ho's Instagram & HK01