Mr Tong and his family of four live in an old building in Cheung Sha Wan where a fire previously broke out in their building. The fire occurred directly above Mr Tong’s apartment and even though firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze, he explained that he was deeply troubled by having to deal with the aftermath.
“When I got home, water was pouring from the ceiling. The floor was flooded, and even the walls and door were saturated with water.
“The dripping lasted for hours. I kept mopping, but the ceiling was badly damaged. Paint and concrete peeled off. The door deformed and could not lock anymore. I felt helpless.”
Thankfully, the Cheung Sha Wan Sub-district Care Team came to Mr Tong’s aid swiftly.
Rapid support
On the night of the fire, members of the care team immediately arrived at the scene to assist affected residents. After the fire was extinguished, the team conducted home visits and discovered Mr Tong’s situation.
Sham Shui Po District Cheung Sha Wan Sub-district Care Team Captain Kathy Li pointed out that as residents returned to their units, the care team, together with the district councillor, conducted home visits to assess the impact, focusing on the fire-affected floors and units below.
During such visits, they discovered Mr Tong’s apartment, which was experiencing severe water damage.
Subsequently, the care team arranged a free inspection of the apartment for Mr Tong. During the inspection, the surveyor provided him with a detailed assessment of the damage.
“I am really thankful for the support provided by the care team,” Mr Tong said.
Benevolent purpose
As of the end of January, care teams across Hong Kong had conducted home visits to about 390,000 households. Additionally, they have provided more than 40,000 instances of basic home services and other support services, and organised over 20,000 district activities.
In order to highlight the selfless dedication of the care teams and provide a platform for the 452 care teams in the city to share their experiences, an appreciation event was held.
While officiating at the event, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki underlined the Government’s commitment to enhancing support for the care teams.
He emphasised that the teams have played a vital role, not only in promoting activities and services but also in assisting the Government during emergencies. Their contributions have been widely recognised and praised by the community.
In last year’s Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that the Government will regularise the establishment of care teams and increase funding by 50% in the next term of service in support of their work.
The Chief Secretary said the Government hopes that with the additional resources, the care teams can expand their reach and provide even more comprehensive support to those in need.
Selfless care
At the event, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak also expressed her gratitude to the care teams for their unwavering dedication.
She stressed that they are all volunteers, and that the Government’s funding goes directly towards benefitting residents with services and essential supplies.
She also pointed out that their work embodies the spirit of genuine care, found in the smallest but most meaningful details, which form the foundation of a harmonious community.
