'Fire subsidy provides victims with flexibility'

A Tai Po district councillor on Friday welcomed the government's announcement of an annual subsidy for Wang Fuk Court homeowners over the next two years as well as a one-off relocation subsidy for each affected household. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Lo Hiu-fung said the subsidy would support the fire victims in the short term and would provide residents with flexibility, allowing them to potentially return to live in Tai Po. “Much of the interim housing in Tai Po is now full ... some residents have even told us that the 'one social worker per household' scheme is already overbooked and that they are all on the waiting list,” Lo said. “So what is the interim solution? Actually this rental subsidy could at least help residents find places in the private rental market as a short term measure to support the affected residents of Wang Fuk Court, allowing them to move back to live in Tai Po,” Lo added. Lo said many residents’ interim housing arrangements are now inconveniently located away from their workplace or school, adding that some elderly tenants need to see doctors or take their grandchildren to school from as far away as Kam Tin to Tai Po. He said the government should monitor rental levels in Tai Po and nearby areas to see if there are significant fluctuations due to sudden increases in demand.