An outpouring of grief swept Hong Kong on Saturday as crowds paid their respects and laid flowers for the 128 people killed in one of the city's deadliest fires, marking the start of an official, three-day mourning period.

A growing number of people arrived at a park near the charred shell of Wang Fuk Court, the residential complex that burned for more than 40 hours, to place white and yellow flowers and handwritten messages of remembrance.

"May your spirits in heaven always keep the joy alive," one of the notes read.

A 69-year-old woman surnamed Wong, who lived in the estate for more than four decades, sat dazed nearby as she counted off a list of deceased neighbours and friends.

"It was a grandmother with a 18-month-old baby... I was very close with them," Wong told AFP, adding that

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