Families of the dead in Hong Kong bus crash tragedy to get HK$300,000 donation, city’s leader Carrie Lam says
Announcement comes as officials face mounting pressure to call off fireworks display for Lunar New Year
Each family that lost a loved one in Hong Kong’s fatal bus crash on Saturday will receive a HK$300,000 donation from local charities, the city’s leader has said, while those severely injured will get at least HK$150,000.
The announcement by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor came as her administration faced mounting pressure to call off a major fireworks display over Victoria Harbour to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Six local charitable organisations – including the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Po Leung Kuk and Lok Sin Tong – have donated a total of HK$11 million to help those affected by the tragedy, while the Hong Kong Jockey Club has donated HK$10 million.
“The designated social workers from the Social Welfare Department will follow up on the case and issue this assistance to the families in one go,” Lam said on Sunday after leading a cross-departmental meeting of government officials. “We do not want to see those affected families still having to figure out how to apply for this assistance.”
Hong Kong bus crash survivor describes horror of accident that killed 19 people
Lam refused to comment on the cause of the crash, only saying a probe was under way led by bus operator KMB and the police. A commission of inquiry would come up with a report in a few months’ time after investigations led by a judge and experts, she said.