Emergency funds not enough, says hawker hurt in street cave-in

Hawkers who lost their stalls when a street caved in on Tuesday have been promised up to HK$8,000 in emergency assistance by Central and Western District Office.

But one of the hawkers injured when a section of Li Yuen Street East in Central collapsed during a heavy downpour said it would not be enough to cover his needs in the coming weeks.

District officer Yau Kwai-chong said: 'We will offer urgent assistance and authorise up to HK$8,000 to justified cases through very simple applications.'

But a Mr Lee, who fell into the four-metre-deep hole, said: 'The HK$8,000 is certainly not enough. There are a lot of expenses and I may need to rest up for one or two months to fully recover.'

He said he still had chest pains and had to walk with a cane.

Central and Western District Office has offered only urgent assistance to hawkers and has not made any promises on compensation.

Ms Yau said the issue of compensation had to be considered, but it 'would take some time, because we have to do it in a scientific manner and based on evidence'. She promised to co-ordinate departments to work together and help hawkers get back to work as soon as possible.