HONG KONG, May 27 — Following a devastating five-alarm fire that swept through the Kwong Fuk Court estate in Tai Po, killing 65 people and injuring 77 others, the government today announced a massive mobilization of resources and coordinated action across four critical areas: immediate rescue operations, comprehensive medical support, extensive community aid, and a thorough investigation into the disaster’s origins. The tragedy, which claimed the life of one firefighter, has prompted the city’s Chief Executive to convene multi-departmental meetings to ensure a swift and complete follow-up response.
While the blaze is largely contained across seven of the estate’s eight affected blocks, fire services continue intensive search-and-rescue efforts in remaining levels. The Fire Services Department has addressed 296 out of 346 emergency calls received during the incident.
Immediate Aid and Medical Services Deployed
In an unprecedented effort to provide immediate relief, health authorities have established medical stations staffed by public and private sector professionals at all temporary shelters. These include over 500 medical personnel, comprising more than 250 doctors and 250 allied healthcare specialists. Operating daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., these stations offer essential services such as basic medical assessments, minor trauma care, prescription refills, referral services, and crucial psychological counseling for non-emergency needs.
Addressing the plight of displaced residents, the government has opened nine shelters, currently housing over 500 individuals. To bridge the short- to mid-term housing gap, authorities have secured nearly 1,000 temporary units from youth dormitories and hotels, providing immediate accommodation for one to two weeks. Coordination is underway to provide approximately 1,800 long-term transitional housing units, including public housing and interim centers.
The Social Welfare Department has initiated a “one social worker per household” program to provide affected residents with personalized aid, including emotional support, financial assistance, and temporary child or elderly care arrangements. Furthermore, the Education Bureau is liaising with local school principals and visiting shelters to provide emotional support for students affected by the disaster and coordinate necessary school closures.
Financial Relief and State Mourning Declared
To alleviate immediate financial hardship, the government is providing an emergency cash subsidy of HK$10,000 to every affected household starting tonight.
In a significant show of public support, the Tai Po Kwong Fuk Court Aid Fund has been established with an initial injection of HK$300 million from the government. The fund, which began accepting public donations tonight, will support victims and related relief efforts. The public can donate through designated Bank of China (Hong Kong) accounts.
The government has also mandated a period of official mourning. All government-hosted celebratory events will be canceled or postponed, and officials will reduce non-essential public engagements to focus entirely on relief work. State-level tributes will include lowering government flags to half-mast, organizing memorial ceremonies, and opening condolence books for public expression of sympathy.
Intensive Investigation Launched into Fire Causation
The investigation phase has already yielded arrests. Police earlier today detained two male directors and one male engineering consultant from a separate project for questioning. Authorities have seized suspected substandard materials from the fire site. Once the scene is deemed safe, police and fire investigators will enter the site to conduct a comprehensive sweep to determine the exact cause of the catastrophic blaze.
The tragedy has prompted immediate scrutiny of ongoing construction works across the city. The Buildings Department and Housing Bureau have instructed registered professionals and contractors to urgently review material records, particularly for scaffolding netting, and submit reports within seven days. Inspections are underway at 11 other private housing projects managed by the contractor responsible for the Kwong Fuk Court repairs.
Furthermore, the Buildings Department has launched a special operation to inspect all existing buildings undergoing major external maintenance involving scaffolding, focusing on the flame-retardant performance of protective netting materials. The government is also seeking assistance from mainland China to increase testing capacity for collected material samples. In a meeting with the construction industry, the Development Bureau pushed for a roadmap to replace traditional bamboo scaffolding with metal alternatives, signaling a potential long-term shift in construction practices.
To effectively coordinate this massive, multi-faceted response, the government has established three dedicated working groups: the Investigation and Regulatory Working Group, the Emergency Support and Fundraising Group, and the Contingency Accommodation Arrangement Working Group, led by the Chief Secretary, Deputy Chief Secretary, and Deputy Financial Secretary, respectively.
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