Applications from families in need are dealt with quickly only if they have been reported in the media, the Social Welfare Department admitted yesterday.
Low-profile cases might not even be processed, it said.
The disclosure came after a woman whose husband was killed in an industrial accident was given $9,000 in funeral expenses yesterday - the day her story was reported in the South China Morning Post.
Ng Siu-chun's husband, Lee Sin-leung, 41, died in a fire when the hardware store next to his furniture shop exploded in Western.
'They told me to collect the money this Friday,' said Ms Ng, 38.
'I don't know why they suddenly agreed to give it to me. They treated me like a beggar when I first approached them for help.' Department spokesman Liu Chun-keung said it was unable to process cases quickly unless they were reported by the media.
