HONG KONG — The Hong Kong government is moving to stabilize the lives of thousands displaced by the devastating five-alarm fire last week at Wang Fu Court in Tai Po, with officials confirming that specialized social worker services are the core mechanism for distributing essential relief funds and securing long-term housing.
Patrick Leung Hung-cheong, Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, confirmed Thursday that authorities had already disbursed HK$10,000 in emergency financial assistance to 1,760 affected households. This rapid response follows the massive blaze that resulted in 146 confirmed fatalities. Speaking on local radio, Mr. Leung stressed that the immediate priority is finding stable accommodation and urged all affected residents to swiftly register for the “One Household, One Social Worker” scheme.
As of Wednesday evening, approximately 1,900 households had registered for the specialized support program. Mr. Leung emphasized that all critical assistance—including a HK$50,000 living allowance and HK$200,000 in consolation payments—will be channeled through assigned social workers to ensure comprehensive support tailored to individual family needs. Residents are encouraged to use the dedicated hotline, 182183, to initiate contact with the service.
Securing Housing and Managing Aid Distribution
The extensive displacement has necessitated a massive coordinated housing effort. Officials reported that 2,100 residents had been placed in various temporary accommodations, including youth hostels, transitional housing, and hotels. Furthermore, the emergency relief team has secured 2,000 units in transitional and Housing Society properties for long-term residency, alongside 1,000 units designated for short-term stays, offering residents a range of options.
A key challenge in the aid distribution process has been managing overlapping applications, particularly between landlords and tenants. Mr. Leung addressed the issue of a small number of duplicate claims for the HK$10,000 emergency grant. He affirmed that the financial aid is exclusively intended for direct occupants of Wang Fu Court at the time of the fire, whether they are tenants or owners.
When asked about cases of dual applications, Mr. Leung confirmed that the government would prioritize providing the funds to the affected tenant first, with authorities reserving the right to recover any inappropriately claimed funds from the landlord later. He assured that specialized case workers are assigned to every application to verify eligibility and ensure that the funds reach those genuinely impacted, even in cases where tenants lack formal rental agreements.
Coordination and Public Alert
The government also appealed to private charitable groups offering aid to victims. Mr. Leung suggested that consolidating external donations through the government-established fund or utilizing the “One Household, One Social Worker” mechanism would enhance resource efficiency and prevent duplication.
Regarding material donations, Mr. Leung highlighted the implementation of a centralized online platform where the public can register and photograph items they wish to donate. The government will proactively contact donors only when specific, verifiable needs arise among the resettled residents.
In a critical note, the Under Secretary cautioned the public to remain vigilant against potential fraud, stating that both District Office staff and social workers would consistently remind residents to be wary of scams. The Home Affairs Department has set up a dedicated website to continuously disseminate official information and updates on the relief efforts.
As relief efforts continue, Hong Kong authorities are striving to balance rapid humanitarian assistance with rigorous oversight to ensure that the monumental effort translates into genuine, stable recovery for all affected by the catastrophic Tai Po blaze.
Leave a Reply