The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will provide financial compensation to foreign domestic helpers affected by the Tai Po fire disaster, a senior official said on Tuesday.

“We are truly grateful for their (foreign domestic helpers) selflessness and also their heroic acts during the fire,” Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said at a press briefing at Central Government Offices.

The family of each deceased foreign domestic helper will receive about HK$800,000. Apart from the statutory compensation, which amounts to over HK$500,000, they will also receive a one-off financial assistance of HK$200,000 plus another HK$50,000 worth of financial support, according to the secretary.

Each of the injured helpers will receive HK$50,000 or HK$100,000 depending on the period of time of their stay in hospitals.

Those who survived the fire will receive HK$20,000 each, Sun said, adding that those who were either injured or survived the fire will also receive an Octopus card with an amount of HK$2,000.

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Total 10 foreign domestic helpers were killed in the massive blaze that ravaged the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, while 30 are still missing.

There were 235 foreign domestic helpers working at the housing estate and 192 of them were confirmed safe while three were injured in the conflagration.

The Consulate General of Indonesia in Hong Kong earlier said that nine Indonesian helpers were killed in the blaze while the Philippine consulate confirmed death of one Filipino helper.

Sun said the Labour Department will work closely with the Philippines and Indonesian consulates to ensure that only the genuine family members of the deceased migrant workers can claim financial assistance.

The government is also coordinating with the Immigration Department regarding the work visa of each affected foreign domestic helper.

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Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), thanked the SAR’s Labour Department for helping to reach out Hong Kong employment agencies, determining the exact status of Filipino workers living in Wang Fuk Court and connecting with the Immigration Department.

“We’re thankful to Secretary Sun and the Hong Kong Labour Department for all assistance provided to the survivors, as well as to the injured and to the families of the deceased,” Cacdac said.

He also mentioned one Filipino helper, who was injured and is currently in the local hospital.

“But with a successful medical procedure, should I say an innovative one, she has been saved and is on recovery mode. And we're hoping to bring her home soon with her family,” he said.

Cacdac said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed DMW to help the families of the affected Filipino domestic helpers.

Contact the writer at prime@chinadailyapac.com