HONG KONG, December 3 — Following the devastating five-alarm fire that claimed numerous lives, including many foreign domestic workers, in the Tai Po residential complex of Wang Fuk Court, a prominent labor rights group is urging the public to suspend donations due to concerns over fraudulent fundraising efforts and complex beneficiary verification.
The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims (ARIVA) reported on Monday that it is actively managing 11 cases stemming from the fire, involving nine fatalities—eight Indonesian and one Filipino national—one injured individual, and one person still missing. Amid the tragedy, ARIVA Chief Executive Ada Siu warned that people are falsely claiming familial ties to the victims to solicit funds online, while even legitimate family-led efforts face significant challenges in ensuring money reaches those most in need.
Verification Challenges Halt Charitable Giving
Ms. Siu, speaking on a morning radio program, emphasized that the immediate priority must be confirming the identities of the deceased and their rightful beneficiaries, a process she described as both critical and time-consuming. She warned the public against contributing to any current online appeals until the painstaking verification process is complete.
ARIVA has identified two primary types of suspicious online activity: outright impersonation, where individuals falsely claim to be immediate family to solicit funds; and appeals initiated by well-meaning friends or community members. In both scenarios, ARIVA strongly advises halting all donations.
“Verification of the next of kin is the most crucial, and often the most difficult, task right now,” Siu stated. “We must ensure that every dollar of goodwill is delivered to the most appropriate relatives.”
Months-Long Process to Confirm Beneficiaries
The process of contacting and authenticating the victims’ families is exceptionally complex, particularly for foreign workers who often do not have wills established in Hong Kong. This authentication involves securing legal documents and seeking verification assistance from relevant consulates. Siu noted that ARIVA attempts to go beyond legal paperwork by working with local contacts in the victims’ hometowns to conduct home visits, ensuring aid is directed to immediate family members with the greatest need.
Based on prior experience, the authentication procedure alone can take one to two months. The catastrophic nature of the residential blaze also presents unprecedented challenges, including the potential need for DNA identification for remains that are difficult to recognize. This may require families to travel to Hong Kong or simultaneous testing in multiple countries, a logistical nightmare ARIVA acknowledges it must navigate step-by-step.
The complexities extend to compensation. While the government has indicated that families of deceased domestic workers may receive around HK$800,000 in compensation, and the injured may receive HK$50,000 to HK$100,000, distributing these funds is not straightforward. Hong Kong law dictates fixed compensation distribution ratios (e.g., 50% to the spouse, with the remainder split among children). However, the victims’ home countries may not have similar legal frameworks, potentially leading to disputes over who should receive the funds, even among verified relatives.
ARIVA Strategy: Collect Pledges, Not Cash
Due to these authentication difficulties and concerns over misappropriation, ARIVA announced it will temporarily decline all direct monetary donations. Instead, the association is collecting contact information from individuals and organizations interested in making contributions.
The goal is to maintain a list of committed donors and contact them only after all beneficiary identities have been legally confirmed. This meticulous strategy, involving continuous communication with consulates, employers, and employment agencies, ensures that all charitable contributions are properly allocated and fully utilized for the benefit of the most deserving family members.
Families also face major hurdles traveling to Hong Kong to manage funeral arrangements. Siu indicated that, in past cases, obtaining visas for family members has been extremely difficult, resulting in victims’ remains typically being repatriated for burial in their home countries. ARIVA’s primary focus remains on securing all rightfully owed compensation and ensuring donated funds reach the true designated beneficiaries.
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