The body of the Filipino domestic helper who died in Hong Kong’s deadly blaze last month has been repatriated to her home country, with a senior Philippine official hailing her as a heroine. Separately, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen pledged on Sunday to provide long-term support in stages for…
Hong Kong’s home affairs minister has urged landlords against “fishing in troubled waters” by raising rents to pocket government subsidies meant to help displaced residents of the Tai Po fire. The appeal came days after the government announced it would provide affected homeowners of the Wang Fuk Court fire with an annual rental subsidy of…
Hong Kong authorities took market rates into account before setting a two-year annual subsidy of HK$150,000 (US$19,278) for flat owners displaced by the Tai Po fire, the city’s home affairs minister has said, amid calls for the government to monitor whether the new measure will further drive up rents in the area. Under the new…
Hong Kong authorities have made a last-ditch appeal for residents to turn out and vote on Sunday, urging them to refocus on reforms and the future, as analysts warned that the deadly Tai Po fire may prove decisive for the final turnout. The appeal came as Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong met with…
From shoes, apparel and daily necessities to food, logistics services and even university sponsorships for two orphans, donors from all walks of life have come together to support survivors of the Tai Po fire, Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades. Beyond the HK$3 billion (US$385 million) raised from the private sector and the government as of…
Hong Kong authorities have doubled the living allowance from HK$50,000 (US$6,410) to HK$100,000 for each household at inferno-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, while assuring affected residents that a long-term solution on housing settlement will be found for them. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen revealed more support measures on Thursday…
A Hong Kong government subsidy of HK$60,000 (US$7,710) for victims of the Tai Po fire is only for residents living in Wang Fuk Court, the home affairs minister has clarified amid alleged cases of abuse online. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Saturday that authorities had not received any formal…
Hong Kong’s home affairs minister has called on NGOs to better coordinate with the government on their support for residents displaced in the city’s deadliest fire in decades following reported confusion on the ground. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on Saturday also rejected accusations the government-backed care teams had called police…
As despair draped the air and hopes dimmed for the scores still unaccounted for, one scene stood out on the second night after Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades: volunteers forming long human chains next to the charred buildings in Tai Po, passing on supplies hand to hand. These volunteers – mobilised mostly through social…
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in seven decades climbed to more than 100 on Friday as the government announced a three-day official mourning period from Saturday for victims of the blaze. National and Hong Kong flags at all its buildings and facilities will fly at half-mast until Monday, with officials cancelling all…