In relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the Government announced today that it has disbursed a special subsidy of $20,000 to 110 foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) employed there. Separately, $200,000 tokens of solidarity of and funeral grants of $50,000 have been offered to the families of each deceased FDH, whilst injury grants of $50,000 or $100,000 have also been given out to injured FDHs.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Department has made special arrangements for FDHs whose employers are unable to continue their employment contracts due to the Tai Po blaze. The helpers concerned will be allowed to remain in Hong Kong for three months as visitors, extendable if necessary, in order to seek new employers without having to return to their places of origin first. The Immigration Department will also waive the fees for their extension of stay.
As of this morning, 1,336 residents had been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels, camps, or hotel rooms. Another 3,247 residents are living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or the Hong Kong Housing Society, or at Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun.
The Government remarked that there is still an abundant supply of more than 1,000 units for longer term accommodation for those affected by the fire. Transitional housing and Hong Kong Housing Society projects in different districts can altogether provide around 400 units at the moment. In addition, Po Tin Interim Housing in Tuen Mun and Runway 1331 at Kai Tak can provide around 900 units.
As of noon today, donations received by the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had reached about $3.4 billion. Combined with the $300 million in startup capital from the Government, the fund now totals around $3.7 billion.
On the Government’s online platform for donated supplies, about 1,800 registrations have been received. About 23,000 donated items, covering various categories, have been distributed.