Primary Healthcare Commission arranges more comprehensive primary healthcare services for residents affected by Tai Po Wang Fuk Court fire
Following the earlier announcement that the District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (collectively referred to as DHCs) will serve as hubs for arranging free primary healthcare services for residents affected by the fire incident in Tai Po, the Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) announced today (December 4) the establishment of a free family doctor service scheme to support the affected residents. Serving as hubs, the DHCs across all 18 districts in Hong Kong have arranged case managers to follow up on the primary healthcare needs of the affected residents comprehensively. Based on the situations of individual cases and the preferences of affected residents, case managers will pair them with private sector family doctors participating in the scheme or the Hospital Authority (HA)'s Family Medicine Out-patient Services.
Under the co-ordination of the PHC Commission, more than 140 family doctors in the private sector have participated in the scheme currently, covering 170 service points including four private hospitals. Affected residents can receive up to three free consultations, through the DHCs' arrangements, from today until February 28 next year. The services cover drug prescriptions, including necessary medication refills based on one's medical history; follow-ups on post-incident conditions, including respiratory illness; and management of symptoms related to stress and anxiety. Affected residents with healthcare needs can call the hotlines or visit any DHC in person to seek assistance, regardless of their current place of residence. If affected residents are registered DHC members, they can also contact their respective DHC directly. The hotlines have been posted on the websites of the PHC Commission and the DHCs. Case managers of the DHCs will pair affected residents with private family doctors participating in the scheme.
The HA earlier announced that full medical fee waivers would be provided for affected residents, covering Family Medicine Out-patient Services. Based on the situations of individual cases and the preferences of affected residents, case managers of the DHCs will also assist them in accessing the HA's Family Medicine Out-patient Services. So far, more than 300 consultations have been provided by the Family Medicine Out-patient Services for affected residents.
In addition to the pairing of consultation services, the DHCs, serving as hubs, have been providing affected residents with personalised case management services. These include co-ordinating arrangements for follow-up appointments and medication refills, making referrals for specialised healthcare, nursing and medication services, as well as psychological support. Affected residents can register via the hotlines without having to visit the DHCs in person. Operators of emergency transitional housing and social workers from the Social Welfare Department can also assist in referring residents in need to receive services at the DHCs.
The medical stations currently set up at temporary shelters, co-ordinated by the PHC Commission, will remain in operation until closure of the shelters. The medical stations have provided medical and psychological support services for over 2 000 consultations so far.
The PHC Commission expressed gratitude to the private healthcare sector for its enthusiastic support in providing assistance to affected residents. Family doctors who wish to participate in the free services scheme can contact the PHC Commission (email address: phcc@healthbureau.gov.hk ), demonstrating the spirit of compassion and social responsibility. The PHC Commission is also co-ordinating free Chinese medicine services through the Chinese Medicine Unit of the Health Bureau. Further details will be announced later.
Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
