New Year blessings: Deputy chief secretary Cheuk visits vulnerable residents

Deputy chief secretary for administration Warner Cheuk Wing-hing spread early New Year blessings during his community visit on Sunday, reaching out to elderly individuals living alone and residents of subdivided flats in Tai Kok Tsui. 

This visit marks the second day of a four-day campaign, which sees top government officials engaging with the community in anticipation of the Lunar New Year on Wednesday. 

The initiative was launched by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu the previous day.

In a post on Facebook, Cheuk shared that he arrived with an assortment of gifts, including fruit baskets, biscuits, panda dolls, turnip cakes, foie gras Chinese sausage, and preserved sausage with tangerine peel.

"Today, I visited Ms Chow, who lives alone on Palm Street in Tai Kok Tsui. After undergoing knee surgery, she has been feeling lonely and helpless," Cheuk said. 

He noted that Chow had reached out to the district's councilor and the Home Affairs Department's Yau Tsim Mong Public Enquiry Service Center, which has been delivering meals to her daily and addressing issues such as water seepage that had caused her bathroom ceiling to peel.

The care teams also assisted in converting her bathtub into a shower base, making it safer for her to use. 

"Chow expressed her happiness at our New Year visit, which reminded her that there is love in the world. I wish her a swift recovery and encourage her to take walks in nearby parks for a healthier lifestyle," Cheuk added.

Following his visit to Chow, Cheuk also met Mr Lok's family, who reside in subdivided housing. 
Lok, employed in the food service industry, has lived with his family of four in these cramped conditions for several years. 

They have been awaiting public rental housing, with Lok expressing hope for a timely allocation to improve their living situation.

(Henry Siu)