60. Some idea of how the machinery for relief functions in an emergency may be gained from the following account. After the disastrous fire at Tai Hang Tung on 22nd July, 1954 mass registration, which was handled entirely by Social Welfare Office and Resettlement Department staff, was begun on the night of the fire on 22nd July and ended at 7 p.m. on 24th July. Including late-comers a total of 6,951 families composed of 24,701 persons were registered. Feeding of the victims was in operation by the morning of 23rd July and during the first few days an average of about 40,000 free meals were given out each day. The special section dealing with vulnerable groups, which had previously functioned after the Shek Kip Mei fire and was staffed mainly by officers of the Youth Welfare Section, was re-activated in this emergency. Underfed babies and lost children were referred to the Society for the Protection of Children for care and attention. Pregnant women, besides being referred to the Emergency Maternity Hospital at King George V School for ante-natal care, were offered accommoda- tion at Argyle Street Temporary Shelter as were physically handicapped or aged victims. Club children were given the task of distributing powdered milk to babies.
61. The Shumshuipo Kaifong Association made a major contribution towards this emergency relief work by setting up, with the co-operation of the majority of the leading Chinese. charitable organizations, the Kowloon Tong Village Fire Relief Committee. This committee, headed by the Chairman of the Shumshuipo Kaifong Association, handed over to the fire victims donations received from the public amounting to over $400,000.
62. In August it was possible to close and dismantle the Temporary Shelter in Argyle Street which had been erected in January, 1953 to house victims of two squatter fires who were resettled, mainly in Homantin Resettlement Area.
63. The fire on 21.2.55 at Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui, New Territories, on account of the distance from the urban areas, created special problems which were however soon overcome, and emergency relief measures were carried out
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