Hong Kong officials defend plan to revoke licence of scandal-hit nursing home against charge they’re acting too late

Social welfare department criticised after confirming seven deaths in two years at centre where mentally disabled resident claimed sexual assault

Reading Time:2 minutes

The Social Welfare Department, whose main office is in Kowloon City (pictured), has drawn criticism for its handling of the nursing home in Kwai Chung. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Published: 12:01pm, 21 Oct 2016Updated: 11:25pm, 21 Oct 2016

The government has defended its decision to revoke the temporary licence of a scandal-stricken nursing home for the mentally disabled, despite new revelations there were seven deaths in two years.

The Social Welfare Department announced on Thursday it would revoke Bridge of Rehabilitation Company’s temporary operating licence because it failed to comply with care and management standards.

The nursing home in question is located in Kwai Chung

On an RTHK radio programme on Friday, the department’s assistant director Fong Kai-leung confirmed there were seven deaths over the past two years at the private care centre in Kwai Chung. He claimed the government was taking action over the centre’s failure to make immediate changes.

Fong said five out of the seven cases were reported to the department and that investigators had found no criminal evidence in four cases. The police were still investigating the fifth involving a 14-year-old boy who jumped to his death in August.

“A lot of those living with disabilities have long-term illnesses or emotional problems, and we cannot rule out the possibility of their passing away due to those reasons,” he said.

He added the remaining two cases were not reported to authorities because the families confirmed the two nursing home residents died of long-term illnesses in hospital rather than at the centre.