The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced the income from its Sunday race meeting, which amounted to HK$70.2 million ($9 million), will be donated to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.
This comes after seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in the district of Tai Po went up in flames. It has now been reported that at least 146 people are known to have died.
On Saturday (November 29), three days of national mourning began, with many leaving flowers and handwritten notes to mourn the victims. The Hong Kong Jockey Club first announced on November 27 that the proceeds from Sunday’s closed-door race meetings would be donated to support victims of the fire.
They also stated that the Mark Six lottery draw would be postponed to 2 December, three days after its original date of 29 November. The club announced a donation of HK$100 million too, through its Charities Trust, to support victims and the families involved.
Hong Kong Jockey Club donates HK$170.2 million in total
In an update on Sunday, the company said: “The Club extends its deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones and sympathies to those who have suffered injury and loss as a result of the fire. The Club’s Charities Trust will continue to work closely with relevant government departments and non-governmental organisations.”
The club continued to explain that trust-supported programs were activated immediately to provide practical support to the families in need. This included providing support to transitional housing operators to furnish vacant units and provide daily necessities, as well as emergency medication, emotional and bereavement support.
It also involved helping older residents and carers to connect to social services, organizing online sessions for parents and supporting kindergartens and nursery schools, and arranging subsidies to affected students to help with uniforms, stationary, and other supplies.
Featured Image: Cyril Yoshi / CC BY-SA 4.0
