Tai Po fire: Living subsidy for affected residents doubled to HK$100,000

The living subsidy for residents affected by the deadly Tai Po blaze will be doubled from HK$50,000 to HK$100,000, the Hong Kong government has announced.

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak said on Thursday that the government would transfer the new, additional sum directly to the bank accounts of around 300 households that had received the subsidy.

Families who have not yet collected the initial relief payment will receive the full HK$100,000 in a single payment.

Households that have not been registered with the Social Welfare Department (SWD) may call 182183 to receive assistance from social workers in applying for government relief funds. The government has pledged to assign one social worker to each affected household from the massive five-alarm fire at Wang Fuk Court, which has claimed at least 159 lives.

Mak also announced on Thursday that the government-established Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po had received HK$2.5 billion in external donations. Together with a HK$300 million injection from the government, the fund now totals around HK$2.8 billion.

These resources will be used to help residents rebuild their homes and provide them with long-term support, she said.

The minister also warned the public against claims of a QR code for the official donation account, saying any such claim would be a scam. Receipts will be issued to donors next week, she said.

Free medical service

On Thursday, the Primary Healthcare Commission, under the Health Bureau, announced that residents affected by the fire may receive up to three medical consultations – including prescription medicine – free of charge under a new volunteer family doctor programme.

More than 140 private family doctors had joined the government’s pro bono service scheme for residents affected by the Wang Fuk Court fire, the commission said. The scheme began on Thursday and will run until February 28 next year.

The programme offers over 170 service points, including four private hospitals. The doctors may, based on the patient’s medical history, provide necessary medication refills, follow up on respiratory illnesses and other trauma caused by the fire, and manage related symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Residents in need may call or visit the district health centres across the city. Managers at the health centres will match affected individuals with private sector family doctors.

The Hospital Authority said on Wednesday that it would provide a full waiver of medical fees for affected residents, which covers family medicine outpatient services.

According to the Primary Healthcare Commission, district health centres have begun providing personalised case management services for those affected. The centres will also help refer residents to specialists, provide nursing care, psychological support, and other services.

See also: HKFP Guide: How to support families affected by the deadly Tai Po fire

Operators of the emergency transitional housing and social workers under the Social Welfare Department may also help refer affected residents to the health centres, it added.