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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the assistance to the residents affected by the closure order in respect of Kai Ming Street today (August 31):
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We are doing our best to help those affected by the closure order at Kai Ming Street. And up to now, we understand only six households affected are requiring our assistance. We are helping them through temporary sheltering in hostels and also providing temporary accommodation in guesthouses. And in fact, I understand some of the households are making their own arrangement with relatives. So we are doing our best to help. ¡@
Reporter: (About the accommodation arrangement.)
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We normally provide two kinds of assistance. First of all, temporary accommodation in terms of hostels, in terms of temporary shelters and in terms of transit housing. And also if necessary, we are ready to provide them with an emergency relief allowance to tide them over. For example last night, we provided accommodation at the guesthouses nearby and we are prepared to finance three nights of guesthouse expenses. But in the long term, of course, we'll provide temporary accommodation for them through transit housing but I gathered that many of these households are making their own arrangements with relatives. But we stand ready to help each of these to make sure they are assisted.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, August 31, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:20
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