HK fire: 4,510 residents in shelters as support fund reaches HK$3.6b

HONG KONG – Total 4,510 residents, who were affected by the Nov 26 deadly fire in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district, have so far been accommodated under various government arrangements.

Of them, 1,451 have been accommodated under the coordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau in youth hostels, camps, and hotel rooms, while the rest have moved into transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), as of Friday morning, according to a government statement.

Meanwhile, donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had reached about HK$3.3 billion as of Friday noon. With the HK$300 million in startup capital from the special administrative region government, the donation takes the fund to a total of around HK$3.6 billion.

The government formed the fund to assist residents in rebuilding their homes and providing long-term and sustained support after the fatal fire tore through seven of the eight buildings of Wang Fuk Court, leaving at least 160 people dead.

The fund will provide a HK$100,000 living allowance to each affected household. As of Friday, the fund has processed 1,838 applications.

It will also provide the families of each deceased victim with a HK$200,000 token of solidarity, as well as HK$50,000 to cover funeral costs. Total 128 cases have been processed as of Friday.

Welfare arrangements

All units currently available in transitional housing and HKHS projects are equipped with furniture and appliances such as bed frames, mattresses, induction cookers, and water heaters, enabling the residents to settle in comfortably, thanks to the generous community support and donations.

Also, a number of organizations have stationed their staff in some projects to provide residents in need with various forms of support, including free medical and legal consultation services.

Separately, a task force under the Advisory Committee on Mental Health held its second meeting on Friday to discuss multiple measures to provide mental health support to families and members of the public affected by the Wang Fuk Court fire.

On Thursday, the advisory committee launched a one-year support program for the families bereaved by the Tai Po fire.

In the initial stage, participating organizations include Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, the Comfort Care Concern Group, and the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong. The organizations will actively reach out to the bereaved families to provide services.

Relief supplies

A government online platform for donated supplies has received about 1,800 registrations, with approximately 30 percent submitted by various organizations.

Over 19,600 donated items, covering various categories, have already been distributed.

Regulation work

In liaison with police, the Housing Department on Friday started to remove burnt scaffolding on the external walls of Wang Cheong House, Wang Tai House, and Wang Sun House, which were badly burned in the Nov 26 devastating fire.

Meanwhile, the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit has completed strengthening works such as concrete grouting and erecting temporary props, in a small number of units that may be subject to more serious damage.