Hong Kong officials unveiled a significant increase in the disaster relief fund established following the devastating fifth-alarm fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court, announcing Friday that the fund now totals HK$3.4 billion (approximately US$435 million). Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen met with the press today to detail the expanded support measures, which include an immediate HK$100,000 subsidy for every affected apartment owner to mitigate financial distress caused by the tragedy.
The government-established Wang Fuk Court Assistance Fund received an initial injection of HK$300 million. Through an overwhelming public response, external donations have swelled the total to HK$3.4 billion, reflecting the community’s broad commitment to aiding those impacted by the severe casualties and displacement. Mr. Chan confirmed that the supervisory committee overseeing the fund formally approved the special grants during its meeting earlier today, underscoring the government’s commitment to expedited relief.
Transparency and Owner Support Detailed
The newly approved HK$100,000 grant is specifically directed at unit owners in Wang Fuk Court. Mr. Chan explained the rationale, noting that the fire had severely impacted rental income for some owners and created urgent cash flow pressures for those facing extensive repair and refurbishment costs. This targeted subsidy aims to ease the financial burden on property owners; the subsidy will be allocated on a per-unit basis, irrespective of the number of registered owners.
To ensure public trust and accountability, Mr. Chan stressed that the fund is managed by a supervisory committee and that its accounts will be subject to standard auditing procedures by the Audit Commission. A detailed report on the fund’s utilization will also be submitted to the Legislative Council, reinforcing the commitment to transparency in managing public donations.
Public Generosity Drives Fund Growth
The massive surge in the fund’s size is largely attributable to the extraordinary level of public generosity. Officials revealed the fund has received more than 263,000 individual donations to date. While the vast majority (around 257,000 transactions) were under HK$10,000, approximately 170 donations exceeded HK$5 million, collectively contributing over HK$1.7 billion.
In appreciation of this widespread support, the government outlined expedited procedures for donors seeking tax relief. For donations of HK$50,000 or less made via bank transfer, the Inland Revenue Department will fast-track the process, requiring donors only to retain the transfer records for verification purposes to claim the deduction. Officials anticipate processing donation receipts starting next week, with specific logistical details to follow.
Asked whether the current relief amounts—including the earlier HK$200,000 bereavement payment for victims’ families and HK$100,000 living allowance per affected household—would be reconsidered, Mr. Chan indicated that support is an ongoing, adaptive process. He emphasized that should further needs be identified through continued engagement with residents, the government remains open to introducing additional support schemes.
Secretary Mak highlighted the government’s rapid and flexible response, noting that the coordination across various departments managing over 200,000 donation transactions demonstrated the extraordinary effort involved. Beyond addressing the immediate aftermath, Ms. Mak stressed the crucial need to emphasize proactive prevention to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
The massive funding increase and targeted relief measures aim to provide critical stability for the residents of Wang Fuk Court as they navigate the prolonged recovery period following the catastrophic fire.
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