About 1,760 households affected by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades have received an emergency cash handout of HK$10,000 (US$1,284), an official has confirmed, as the city works to ease mortgage burdens on impacted homeowners.
Authorities earlier announced a series of relief funds for residents affected by last Wednesday’s massive Wang Fuk Court inferno, which has so far claimed 151 lives. The measures include the HK$10,000 one-off emergency payment for each victim and a living allowance of HK$50,000.
“We have already received more than 1,900 applications and have distributed the relevant HK$10,000 emergency subsidy to 1,760 households,” Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Clarence Leung Wan-ching told a radio show on Monday.
Families of the deceased will each receive HK$200,000, along with government assistance throughout the entire bereavement process. Schools in Tai Po will also be granted either HK$100,000 or HK$50,000 to provide aid to students.
Leung added that the “one-household, one-social worker” mechanism was implemented to manage applications and distribute the various aid packages.
Regarding living arrangements, about 2,100 residents have been settled in various temporary accommodation, including transitional housing and hotels.
The Housing Bureau had secured 2,000 transitional housing or Housing Society flats for longer-term placement, he said.
Wilson Or Chong-shing, member of the Housing Authority’s Subsidised Housing Committee, also confirmed on the same programme that the organisation had worked to ease financial pressure on flat owners who had not yet paid the land premium.
“The Housing Authority has specifically contacted relevant financial institutions, including banks, in the hope of extending the repayment period for mortgage principal and interest,” he said.
He advised individual owners to contact their banks to ask about their specific loan arrangements.
Dozens of residents were seen visiting the disaster site’s nearby Kwong Fuk sitting-out area in the morning to lay down bouquets and pay tribute to the deceased.
Some also bowed, prayed and observed a minute of silence.
A part-time cleaner, surnamed Ng, came to the spot at 9am with her sister-in-law from Choi Wan and left a bouquet.
“I cannot describe [my feelings],” the 36-year-old said emotionally.
“We thought there would be many people on Sunday, so we came now,” said Ng, who had come to Tai Po when the fire broke out on Wednesday to offer supplies to the affected people.
The pair also visited Sha Tin Fire Station to pay tribute to Ho Wai-ho, the firefighter who died in the fire.
A 70-year-old man, surnamed Wong, also visited the site.
“There were a lot of people yesterday, so I spared some time before starting work to mourn,” said Wong, who lives near Wang Fuk Court and works in the construction sector.
