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Emily Hung

The Hong Kong Red Cross has raised HK$530 million (US$67.8 million) to provide emergency and long-term support to residents affected by the deadly Tai Po fire, with the NGO expecting all its relief and recovery efforts to be finished in five years.
More than three months on from the Wang Fuk Court blaze that killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000, the group said on Thursday that it had ended its donation drive.
It also pledged to spend no more than 5 per cent of the funds on administrative fees.
Charity CEO Bonnie So Yuen-han, who is set to retire this month after several decades at the NGO, said the city had entered an “early recovery” stage.
“We expect that it will take five years for all the emergency relief and long-term recovery, after assessing the scale of the disaster and the amount of resources devoted to supporting victims,” she said.
“Although the scale of the impact is large and many are affected, we saw many parties, including residents, enterprises and the government, coming forward to help.”
She noted that it had taken 10 years for a full recovery after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake due to the victims’ high level of vulnerability and their limited capacity to recover from the tragedy.
Discussing funds raised to support Wang Fuk Court residents, So said 55 per cent of the donations would be allocated to emergency response measures.
The allocated money includes around HK$100 million to provide affected families with six months of financial support. The amount will range from HK$4,000 to HK$15,000, depending on the size and needs of each household.
It also covers HK$12 million set aside for pre-loaded Octopus cards, and HK$60,000 each for families of the 10 domestic helpers who died in the fire.
About HK$120 million will be set aside for long-term assistance of the most vulnerable families, including those with children, elderly members, people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and their carers.
Another 40 per cent of the donations will go towards a five-year community recovery programme, which will mainly cover the physical, mental and social needs of affected residents, and enhance the public’s disaster preparedness.

So said the remaining 5 per cent would go towards the charity’s administrative fees.
“The 5 per cent cap is derived from the guidelines of the government disaster relief fund … All expenses will be reimbursed for actual expenses only, and for services related to the Tai Po fire,” she said.
The charity’s CEO said the group had also looked at various ways to reduce such costs, including liaising with banks to waive the administrative fees for donations, although certain expenses were unavoidable, such as those related to an internal audit.
Alice Ling Ching-yin, who was in charge of the charity’s fundraising operation, said that, in the early days, the organisation needed internal audit professionals to monitor the workflow for the cash distribution process to ensure no funds were lost or distributed incorrectly.
She added that an audit report for the public and donors would be prepared to ensure the management of the funds was transparent.
Eleanor Lam Chuen-ping, who will take over from So as CEO, said the Hong Kong Red Cross had received a clear message after surveying about 500 Wang Fuk Court residents and their neighbours in Tai Po, as well as frontline workers, donors and other NGOs, on how the charity should proceed.
“Rebuilding resilience takes time, and we not only need to support those who lived in Wang Fuk Court, but also all Hong Kong residents to enhance their disaster preparedness,” she said.
“We need to prevent the same disaster from happening again, and make sure we will respond even better next time.”
Lam said the NGO would conduct disaster preparedness education, first aid and basic psychological support training for the public.
A dedicated service point in Tai Po would officially open in June to act as a community “gathering point” for area residents, she added.
Lam said the group would also provide comprehensive care services for the victims, with its mobile clinics offering consultations and referral services for displaced residents no longer able to visit their usual doctors.
To ensure safe alternative living conditions, she said the charity had also conducted home safety assessments and installed anti-fall facilities for elderly residents.
She added that the group planned to deploy emotional support services operating from vehicles to access affected residents rehoused across the city, in addition to continuing to run a mental health support hotline.
Lam, who joined the Hong Kong Red Cross in 1998, will become the group’s CEO and secretary general on April 1.
The government held its own fundraising efforts in response to the tragedy, raising about HK$4.7 billion by late February, with some of the money already going towards various allowances for affected residents.
The government recently said it would also use some of the funds to buy Wang Fuk Court flats from owners looking to cash out.


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Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Tai Po fire: Hong Kong Red Cross raises HK$530 million for affected residents

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po after the deadly blaze. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong Red Cross CEO Bonnie So (left) and her successor, Eleanor Lam. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong police recover credit card amid theft fears at fire-hit Tai Po estate

Construction workers at Wang Fuk Court are escorted by police officers as part of enhanced security screening. Photo: Sam Tsang

Police have introduced stricter checks to safeguard residents’ belongings following the theft of HK$90,000 worth of jewellery from a flat at Wang Fuk Court. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong police boost checks at Tai Po fire block after jewellery theft arrests

The reinforcement work is  mainly focused on flats that were severely damaged in the blaze. Photo: Jelly Tse

Commissioner of Police Joe Chow. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong grants HK$6.15 million to family of firefighter killed in Tai Po blaze

The family of deceased firefighter Ho Wai-ho will receive HK$6.15 million in financial support. Photo: Eugene Lee

Ho Wai-ho died while conducting a search and rescue operation at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po during the blaze. Photo: Handout

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Hong Kong

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Charity says it has ended donation drive and vows no more than 5 per cent of funds will go towards administrative fees


Charity says it has ended donation drive and vows no more than 5 per cent of funds will go towards administrative fees.


Hong Kong society

Hong Kong fires and safety

Mental health

Tai Po fire: Hong Kong Red Cross raises HK$530 million for affected residents

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Charity says it has ended donation drive and vows no more than 5 per cent of funds will go towards administrative fees

Charity says it has ended donation drive and vows no more than 5 per cent of funds will go towards administrative fees