Hongkongers displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire feel as if they are “being tossed around like a ball” after being told to leave their temporary accommodation by the end of the month, and are urging authorities to let them stay until long-term housing is found.
Affected residents were recently told by social workers that they needed to move out of their temporary rooms at youth hostels by January 31.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau had said that such residents could move into transitional housing, while property owners could use the government’s HK$150,000 (US$19,249) annual subsidy to rent flats elsewhere.
The fire in November engulfed seven of Wang Fuk Court’s eight blocks, burning for about 43 hours. At least 161 people died in the tragedy and nearly 5,000 others were displaced.
The tragedy prompted authorities to provide temporary accommodation to affected residents.
According to figures from late December, 494 people were staying in hotel rooms, 549 at youth hostels or camps and another 3,591 in transitional housing.
Molly Tam, 68, is among those currently staying in youth hostels, and said she had been moved four times since the fire.
She has been staying at Po Leung Kuk Lee Shau Kee Youth Oasis in Yuen Long since December 12, and was shocked to learn recently that she would have to relocate again soon.
There were barely any good alternatives left, she said.
“The choices we have now are too few. The good places are gone. For us, this is unfair,” she said.
“Hope the government can plan a long-term, final destination. Right now, we’re being tossed around like a ball. The repeated back-and-forth causes repeated harm, which is very distressing.”
Tam said she and other displaced residents at the hostel hoped to continue staying there until a long-term option was found.
“We all hoped to have a long-term place to live,” she said.
Youth Oasis is currently home to about 70 families, or more than 150 people, displaced by the fire. According to hostel staff, many of the residents are more than 60 years old.
Another resident staying at the hostel, who only identified herself as J Law, echoed Tam’s remarks that there were limited housing alternatives.
Law said she had a heart condition and had already moved twice since the fire. She also expressed concerns about the soundproofing at transitional housing and whether it would disrupt her sleep.
“All the good homes are gone now. I don’t want to move again,” she said. “I have already lost my home, I don’t want to go through difficulties so many times.”
The bureau said that the provided accommodation at youth hostels and hotels was only intended as a short-term option.
It added that the hostels were initially intended to “support the long-term development of youth”.
In a reply to the Post, charitable organisation Po Leung Kuk on Monday said that affected residents would not be forcibly evicted even if they could not find alternative accommodation after January 31.
“We understand that the government is telling the affected residents currently staying in Youth Oasis of their latest long-term accommodation arrangements through their social workers,” a spokesman said.
“While complying with the government’s latest policy, Youth Oasis will continue to adapt to residents’ wishes and address their needs in a flexible manner.”
The spokesman said the charity would consider, on a case-by-case basis, whether to extend the relocation timeline for residents struggling to find new housing.
“In short, affected Wang Fuk Court residents currently staying in Youth Oasis need not worry about accommodation or rent arrangements,” he said. -- SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
