For Ian Chu, capturing one last image of the sea from his home before it was gone forever was deeply important to him as he returned on Saturday to the scene of the deadly blaze at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court to collect his belongings.

Chu lived in Wang Cheong House, where 81 people died – nearly half of the 168 in total.

“Since the renovations I have not seen the ocean, the sunlight … so I just tried to take as many photos as I could while I had the chance,” he said, showing reporters an image...