The Hong Kong Government has rolled out a comprehensive package of special subsidies for victims of the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, with a dedicated HK$20,000 one-off payment specifically earmarked for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) who lived and worked in the affected building.
Acknowledging the particularly vulnerable position of migrant domestic workers, a Government spokesman highlighted that many FDHs “may not have support from family or relatives in Hong Kong” and could have lost all personal belongings in the blaze. The subsidy also covers cases where the helper’s employer tragically perished, potentially leaving the worker without accommodation, income, or immediate prospects.
The HK$20,000 subsidy for foreign domestic helpers will be administered by the Labour Department, mirroring the same amount offered to local construction workers, cleaners, and security guards who were employed at Wang Fuk Court and have suffered income loss or destruction of work-related equipment.
In an earlier announcement, the government plan to provide $200,000 as a token of solidarity to the families of each deceased victim in the Wang Fuk Court fire will also apply to the families of foreign domestic helpers who passed away in the fire.
Other targeted subsidies announced today include:
- Injury grant: HK$100,000 for those hospitalised seven days or more; HK$50,000 for six days or less.
- Student grant: HK$20,000 per student (from kindergarten to post-secondary) for replacement of textbooks, stationery, computers, and transport costs to school from temporary accommodation.
- Workers’ subsidy: HK$20,000 for affected construction, cleaning, and security staff.
These measures come on top of earlier assistance already disbursed: tokens of solidarity of HK$200,000 and funeral grants of HK$50,000 to families of the deceased (first batch covering 18 fatalities), living allowances of HK$50,000 to affected households (first batch of 20 cases), and an emergency cash subsidy of HK$10,000 provided immediately after the incident.
Support Fund reaches HK$1.6 billion
The Government also revealed that public donations to the dedicated Wang Fuk Court Support Fund have surged to HK$1.3 billion. Combined with the Government’s HK$300 million seed funding, the total now stands at approximately HK$1.6 billion. The fund will finance home rebuilding and provide longer-term support for residents.
Labour rights groups have welcomed the inclusion of foreign domestic helpers in the relief package, noting that FDHs – who number over 370,000 in Hong Kong and are required by law to live in their employer’s residence – are often overlooked in disaster-response measures despite being integral to many households.
The Immigration Department has confirmed it will exercise flexibility on overstaying arrangements for affected FDHs whose contracts have been prematurely terminated due to the fire, allowing them time to secure new employment or make alternative arrangements without immediate deportation risk.
Disbursement of the special subsidies is expected to begin in the coming weeks through the respective channels (Social Welfare Department, schools, and Labour Department). Further batches of assistance will follow as additional cases are verified.
