Social workers struggle with stress, ‘indefinite’ duties 2 months after deadly fire

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Emily HungFebruary 12, 2026 at 01:30 AM

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Two months after the deadly Tai Po fire in Hong Kong, government social workers are struggling with the stress of "indefinite" duties supporting survivors. The "one social worker per household" initiative, launched after the fire, has assigned a dedicated worker to each of the 1,984 affected families. Social workers report poor communication from authorities regarding their roles and new initiatives, which increases their stress and hinders their ability to manage public expectations. The recent death of a social worker involved in the initiative has heightened concerns about heavy workloads and stress levels among frontline staff. Social workers are requesting clarity and support from authorities to better manage their duties and ensure relevant agencies can address complex issues.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

South China Morning Post 50% Wang Fuk Court 50% Housing Bureau 60% Social Welfare Department 60% Hong Kong 70% Tai Po ×280%

Keywords

social workers 100% stress 90% tai po fire 80% workload 70% one social worker per household 60% social welfare department 60% grief counselling 50% housing bureau 40%