The government’s comprehensive support programme for Wang Fuk Court residents who were affected by last week’s devastating inferno will continue without a fixed deadline, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Saturday.
The initiative, which provides each household with both a dedicated social worker and the assistance of two to three civil servants, is aimed at offering sustained and personalised assistance following the deadly fire.
Authorities anticipate the support may run for an extended period of a year or longer, Sun said following an RTHK radio programme.
Of the approximately 1,984 households in Wang Fuk Court, around 1,900 had registered for social-worker assistance by Friday.
Sun said a majority of social workers assigned to the households had already made contact, with current protocol requiring them to make at least two check-in calls a day.
He emphasised that the role of the social workers was acting as the primary point of contact for residents seeking guidance.
“Social workers must find ways to assist them,” Sun said.
“We might not have all the answers, but our approach is to advise residents to first contact their social worker if they’re feeling lost.
“After receiving a call, the social worker needs to determine what information to provide or which departments to contact.”
Sun cited examples such as enquiries about temporary accommodation, which would see social workers provide referrals and do their best to meet residents’ needs.
Given the significant elderly population in Wang Fuk Court, Sun added the government was progressively deploying civil servants in roles that involve practical errand-running to supplement the social workers’ efforts.
In response to questions about a complete smoking ban at all construction sites, Sun said the government would discuss the issue with legislators once the new Legislative Council convenes in the new year.
“We have to consider what kind of penalty we have to put in place,” he said.
“One of the possible options we could explore is possibly is a fixed ticket, so this is one idea we’re going to explore.”
Sun stressed, however, that any detailed proposal would only be finalised after discussions with Legco and consultations with the trade to ensure the new prohibition is enforceable.
Diego Paris
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