Hong Kong authorities will step up mental health support for people affected by the Tai Po fire, the city’s deadliest blaze in several decades, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has announced, with about two-thirds of patients having been discharged from hospitals.
Ten days since the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Secretary of Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday that all 79 patients admitted to hospital due to the fire were no longer at risk, but noted some expressed feelings of guilt or struggled to sleep because they were anxious about their futures.
Forty-nine of the patients had already been discharged, he said, adding that among those remaining in hospital, six were still in serious conditions and the other 24 were stable.
City leader Lee said: “Everyone is experiencing this fire. The whole of society is emanating sadness. I am concerned about those affected and the whole society’s mental health services and support, [and] how to improve,” Lee said, adding that authorities had put in place other support measures for affected residents.
He promised to take action at the first Legislative Council meeting following the election by pushing through systemic reforms to plug loopholes in the construction sector’s practices.
Lam Ching-choi, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Mental Health, suggested strengthening services by arranging independent doctors for each affected household and setting up at least 10 counselling centres.
More training would be provided to relevant personnel to support mental health and counselling services, Lam said.
