XN000022-1976-02-11 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976

ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS WELL LOOKED AFTER

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE, HOME AFFAIRS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH OVER THE NEEDS OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS AND TO RENDER HELP UNTIL THEY ARE RESETTLED PERMANENTLY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES THE HON. F.K. LI, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. LI SAID THAT ABOUT 3,200 PEOPLE FROM 580 FAMILIES WERE REGISTERED WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING THE FIRE AT ALDRICH BAY ON FEBRUARY 1.

HE SAID THAT STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE, HOME AFFAIRS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS WERE AT THE SCENE SHORTLY AFTER THE INCIDENT TO ASSIST WITH EMERGENCY FEEDING AND ACCOMMODATION.

+BLANKETS, QUILTS, WARM CLOTHING, COOKING AND EATING UTENSILS AND TOILET ARTICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE VICTIMS, HOT MEALS PROVIDED AND TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION ARRANGED AT THE SALESIAN SCHOOL WITH THE KIND PERMISSION OF THE HEADMASTER,+ MR. LI SAID.

CASH ASSISTANCE OF $20 PER PERSON WAS IMMEDIATLEY MADE TO THE VICTIMS FROM THE SING TAO FAT CHOI FUND. THE COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICER MOBILISED VOLUNTEERS TO ORGANISE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG VICTIMS DURING THEIR BRIEF STAY AT THE SCHOOL.

MR. LI SAID: THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MEALS TO THOSE WHO ARE AWAITING COMPLETION OF THE HING WAH ESTATE AND WHO ARE BEING ACCOMMODATED TEMPORARILY AT THE CHATHAM ROAD CAMP, THE CHAI WAN TRANSIT CENTRE, AND THE PREMISES OF THE SHAUK IWAN KAIFONG ASSOCIATION.+

UP TO YESTERDAY, HE SAID, A TOTAL OF ABOUT $4 MILLION HAD BEEN RAISED.

DONATIONS SO FAR RECEIVED BY THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND FOR THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE VICTIMS AMOUNTED TO ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

MR. LI SAID THAT EACH VICTIM WAS GIVEN $100 ON FEBRUARY 5 OUT OF THE DONATIONS THEN RECEIVED.

IN ADDITION ABOUT $170,000 HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR GRANTS TO COVER RE-ACCOMMODATION AND OTHER INCIDENTAL EXPENSES UNDER THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND.

HE SAID THAT SOME SPONSORS AND DONORS PREFERRED TO MAKE PAYMENTS DIRECT TO THE FIRE VICTIMS, INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE EMERGENCY REFIEF FUND, AND $300 PER PERSON WAS SO DISTRIBUTED YESTERDAY,

/FURTHER CASH