TAI PO, Hong Kong — The Hong Kong government announced a significant relief package and robust social support mechanism on Thursday following a devastating five-alarm fire at the Tai Po Kwong Fuk Estate, where the death toll has tragically climbed to 128, with 79 others injured. Amid immense public grief, officials, led by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak, confirmed that all government-provided temporary housing and transportation for the affected residents would be offered free of charge, addressing community concerns over relief costs.
The comprehensive assistance plan was detailed during a press conference held at a temporary shelter in Tai Po, shortly after government secretaries visited residents displaced by one of the city’s deadliest residential fires in decades.
Emergency Relief and Financial Support Mobilized
The government is channeling substantial financial resources to support the recovery effort. Secretary Mak confirmed that families of the deceased will receive a HK$200,000 condolence payment per fatality, in addition to an immediate HK$10,000 emergency cash payment announced previously. Furthermore, starting next week, each affected household will be allocated a HK$50,000 living allowance, disbursed through the “One Social Worker Per Household” registration system. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will directly assist with funeral arrangements.
Signaling massive public support, the official Kwong Fuk Estate Aid Fund has swelled to HK$800 million (approximately $102 million USD). This total includes a combined HK$500 million in private donations collected by 5 p.m. local time on Thursday, alongside the government’s HK$300 million contribution.
Mental Health and Educational Support Prioritized
Social integration and mental health services are central to the government’s relief strategy. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun reported that social workers and psychologists are staffing the shelter and mortuary facilities around the clock to provide counseling to grieving families.
The essential “One Social Worker Per Household” initiative has seen 930 households register so far, accounting for roughly half of the total displaced residents. Sun urged any families who have not yet registered to call the 24-hour hotline, 182183, to be connected with dedicated support staff.
Meanwhile, the Secretary for Education, Christine Choi, addressed the fire’s impact on local schooling. She confirmed ongoing communication with schools near the public housing complex and announced two tiers of extraordinary grants for students: those in the Tai Po district will receive either HK$50,000 or HK$100,000 in special incident support allowances, depending on their proximity and degree of impact. To help educators navigate the emotional fallout, the Education Bureau will host professional workshops over the next two days, providing guidance to teachers and parents on supporting students dealing with trauma.
Fire Safety Failures Under Scrutiny
While immediate aid is being delivered, the disaster has thrown into sharp relief critical questions regarding building safety protocols. Initial reports suggest that the complex’s fire alarm system may have been non-operational during the multi-story blaze, potentially escalating the tragedy. Previous maintenance checks, however, reportedly confirmed that the scaffolding netting surrounding the estate met fire-retardant standards.
The catastrophic loss of life and displacement has sparked intense public pressure on authorities to investigate the maintenance and operational status of all fire safety infrastructure at the public housing estate. Former security officers working at the complex have publicly voiced their anguish, suggesting the massive death toll might have been avoided had proper alarm systems been functional. This escalating inquiry into fire safety negligence promises to be a prolonged and sensitive aspect of the overall disaster response.
As thousands of residents struggle to deal with displacement—some forced to sleep in nearby shopping malls—and families search for loved ones identified at temporary morgues, the focus remains firmly on providing stability and justice in the wake of the tragedy.
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