Authorities in Hong Kong have detailed a compensation package for the families of foreign domestic helpers who perished in last week’s deadly fire in Wang Fuk Court, confirming that the support will total about HK$800,000 for each of the deceased workers, including a Filipina.
During a briefing streamed by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Consulate General, Hong Kong Labor Secretary Chris Sun outlined the distribution of assistance. He said more than HK$500,000 will come from statutory compensation, with two additional support tranches of HK$200,000 and HK$50,000.
Apart from aid for the fatalities’ families, Sun said financial assistance for the injured will range from HK$50,000 to HK$100,000 depending on how long they remain hospitalized. Survivors of the blaze will also receive HK$20,000.
Sun, joined at the briefing by Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, reported that 10 overseas workers died in the incident, three were injured, 192 were confirmed safe, and 30 remained unaccounted for.
“We’re working closely with the consulates for those who are going to claim assistance from us, we’ll work with the Filipinos, with the [Philippine Consulate General] to identify and confirm that they are the one and to distribute through the Labor Department, where we work with the consulates,” Sun said.
He stressed that verifying beneficiaries is a priority. “I think the key is we have to make sure that only the genuine family members are eligible to claim the financial assistance for the helpers who died in the incident, so rest assured we’ll work closely with the consulates to make sure that the money is distributed to the right people,” he added.
Cacdac acknowledged Hong Kong’s support not only for the victims but also for those who managed to escape the fire. He said the Hong Kong Labor Department helped the Philippines reach out to employment agencies when authorities were still establishing the status of domestic workers.
“The Hong Kong Labor Department helped us with terms of reaching out to the Hong Kong employment agencies in terms of accounting for. At the time, a few days ago, the names of domestic workers who we need to determine their exact status… there was also help from the Hong Kong Labor Department, with respect to providing us with access to the shelter, with the Home Affairs Department,” Cacdac said.
He added that Hong Kong authorities also opened an inquiry counter for the Philippine Consulate in a Tai Po community center and assisted in coordinating with the Immigration Department on replacing immigration documents lost in the fire. “There was also help through the Hong Kong Labor Department, in terms of connecting us to the Immigration Department, in terms of restoring the immigration documentation of our workers, because many of their belongings and documents were lost in the fire,” he said.
The Philippine Consulate said on Tuesday that 92 Filipinos were confirmed safe, one was injured, and one—identified as Maryan Pascual Esteban—died in the blaze.
A day earlier, Cacdac expressed thanks to Cainta, Rizal mayor Johnielle Pasion Nieto for extending help to Esteban’s 10-year-old child.
Cacdac also noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Migrant Workers to ensure support reaches the families of the victims in the Philippines, including school assistance for the children of two affected workers.
The Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong announced a special arrangement for residents who lost important documents in the fire, allowing the replacement of Hong Kong identity cards, travel documents, and other papers, with all related fees waived.
