A fire at the Ping Fok Yuen in Taipo, Hong Kong has resulted in at least 75 deaths, with numerous residents and rescue workers injured, and over 200 people still missing. Various sectors have come forward to offer support, including the Li Ka Shing Foundation immediately allocating 30 million Hong Kong dollars to set up an emergency relief fund. This fund will assist registered charitable organizations in aiding the victims and providing ongoing support. The Li Ka Shing Foundation will also donate an additional 50 million for future support plans to assist in community rebuilding.
The foundation will also assist injured and deceased firefighters and paramedics through the Disciplinary Forces Special Fund. Qualified charitable organizations are encouraged to submit funding applications through the Tsz Shan Monastery website, with priority given to projects that provide direct assistance to those in urgent need.
The Li Zhaoji Foundation expressed sadness over the incident and extended condolences to the affected individuals. They pledged to continue monitoring the situation closely and collaborate with the government to provide appropriate assistance to those impacted.
The Sun Hung Kai Group expressed deep sorrow over the event and offered condolences and support to the affected residents. The group and the Henry Fok Charity Fund will donate 20 million for disaster relief efforts.
Hotels like Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel, Royal Pacific Hotel, and Hong Kong Disneyland Ocean Park Hotel have prepared a total of 160 rooms to provide free accommodation support for residents in need, aiming to lessen the burden of finding temporary housing.
Sun Hung Kai continued to mention that they have prepared various living supplies to be handed over to relevant government departments for distribution. On the afternoon of the 27th, volunteers from the group will visit the Taipo Anglican Church’s Salvation Army Community Service Center to provide residents with meal boxes and hot soup.
Chow Tai Fook Group announced a donation of 20 million to offer emergency assistance to those affected by the fire. The group mobilized its subsidiaries on the 26th to provide temporary shelter, food, warm clothing, and daily necessities to the affected residents. They will also launch an internal employee donation drive.
The group stated that they would continue to monitor the situation and have their volunteer teams ready to assist the government in providing appropriate follow-up support.
Gold Peak Group declared a 10 million donation, with 7 million from the group and 3 million contributed by the chairman, Lu Yaodong, personally, to provide immediate financial assistance to families affected by the fire.
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) announced a 10 million donation to the Hong Kong Red Cross to offer immediate relief to affected families, including clothing, food and hot meals, temporary shelters, essential daily items (such as hygiene and cleaning products), and mental health support services to help those affected through the ordeal.
Lenovo Hong Kong pledged a 10 million donation for emergency rescue, life supplies replenishment, medical assistance, and subsequent relief work for affected residents. They have also mobilized group volunteers to actively participate in support efforts, closely collaborating with relevant departments to discuss technological solutions to aid in rescue and relief work.
Several mainland businesses also donated funds for disaster relief, support for rescue operations, and post-disaster rebuilding. The Jack Ma Foundation stated an emergency donation of 30 million; ANTA Group contributed 10 million in cash and 20 million in cold protection equipment; Alibaba Group committed an initial donation of 20 million; 361° International provided 15 million in cash and equipment; Ant Group and Hong Kong-based enterprises AlipayHK and Tencent Charity Foundation each initiated a 10 million donation; BYD, ByteDance’s unit ByteDance (Hong Kong), Futu, each contributed 10 million; XPeng Motors donated 5 million; QuantPai contributed 1 million; and Xiaomi Hong Kong Foundation donated 10 million.
The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals expressed sorrow for the deceased and injured, offering condolences and care to the families of the deceased and the injured. They announced a 3 million allocation from the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals for emergency aid, with funds directly used to provide free funeral services to the families of the deceased. Units under Tung Wah have prepared some units as temporary accommodation for residents in need and arranged for transportation for those residents in the Taipo District premises.
Kowloon Funeral Parlour and the charity organization “Forget Not Love” expressed condolences to the victims, offering sympathy to the injured and families of the deceased. The two entities will collaborate to provide free funeral services and related support to the deceased in the fire, including applying for death certificates and cause-of-death documents, discussing post-funeral arrangements with family members, arranging funeral parlors, providing religious rites and personalized eulogies, identifying bodies at public mortuaries or hospitals, applying for cremation services, conducting wake and funeral, collecting ashes, and performing burial rituals, with professional social workers and senior volunteers providing companion and assistance throughout the process.
The charity organization “Rongguang Society” set up stalls outside the Ping Fok Yuen on the morning of the 27th, with over 10 volunteers distributing flyers offering assistance in obtaining death certificates, arranging for free funeral parlors, and cremation, among others.