The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has provided coordinated support for the affected residents of the Wang Fuk Court fire in the last two weeks.
The fire, which broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex on Nov. 26, was the deadliest Hong Kong has witnessed for many decades, with the devastating blaze leaving at least 159 dead, 79 injured and thousands of families homeless.
Within 24 hours of the fire, three emergency task forces were formed to set up emergency housing, distribute aid, and conduct inspections and regulations.
Nearly 4,000 evacuees, who initially spent their nights in community halls, have now found temporary relief in rent-free hotels and transitional housing.
A collection set up by the HKSAR government has reached a total of 3.4 billion HK dollars, which are being used to support all those affected, including bereaved families, displaced residents, construction workers, and foreign domestic helpers.
To streamline access to support, the HKSAR government has created a one-stop website with hotlines and departmental contacts, offering free medical care, mental health services, legal aid, and transport assistance.
Another platform has already facilitated the distribution of more than 16,000 donated items to those in need.
Most households have been paired with social workers, ensuring that no one faces the overwhelming influx of information alone.
Meanwhile, the authorities have inspected more than 350 construction sites, removed scaffold nets from over 200 buildings, and will soon conduct spot checks on new scaffolds before they are used.
As the departments of the HKSAR government are collaborating to manage the crisis, communication with the public has been swift and transparent. Officials are delivering results while addressing urgent questions, with nightly updates keeping the community informed.
HKSAR gov't provides coordinated support for fire victims
