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Struggling to rebuild lives from Block J's rubble

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One year on, former residents forced out of Ma Tau Wai Road have settled into new homes but are struggling to recover from the trauma.

Li Zhenhua moved to a newly furnished public rental flat in nearby Ma Tau Wai Estate but her sleep is regularly punctured by nightmares.

Li has been seeing a psychologist since her 20-year-old son, Tong Qingtao, died in the building collapse. She was out working that day while her son studied at home, a sub-divided flat in Block J, which collapsed into rubble in January last year.

'This place is a thousand times better than the old one,' Li said. 'The other place was small and shabby, but my son and I were happy with our lives ... now I have to start all over again.'

Tong was one of four who died. The others were a 41-year-old man and two prostitutes. But Li recently received a piece of good news. Her 30-year-old daughter, who lives in Fujian , learned this week that her application for permanent residency in Hong Kong had been accepted by mainland authorities.

'I really hope she can come to me soon and keep me company and support me. I also want to get a job when I feel better. I don't want to live on welfare,' she said.

Li, who used to work in a home for the elderly, said she also wanted to express gratitude to the charities that had helped her.

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