The HSICP ceremony is officiated by Miss Alice Mak, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (centre); Ir Wai Chi-sing, Managing Director of the URA (3rd from the left); Mr Edward Yu, District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong) (3rd from the right); Mr Paul Wong, District Officer (Sham Shui Po) (2nd from the left); Mr David Leung, District Officer (Central and Western) (2nd from the right); Mr Denny Ho, District Officer (Kwun Tong) (1st from the left); and Mr Kenneth Wu, Assistant District Officer (Kowloon City) (1st from the right).

URA partners with community groups to improve home safety

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has launched the Home Safety Improvement Community Programme (HSICP) in collaboration with various community organisations across several districts in Hong Kong.

As reported by the Urban Renewal Authority, the programme aims to provide essential home safety and fire protection facilities at no cost to the elderly and underprivileged families, particularly those living in sub-divided units and ethnic minorities.

The programme will focus on Kowloon City, Central and Western District, Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, and Yau Tsim Mong.

A ceremony was held on 25 September 2024 at the URA’s Building Rehabilitation Resource Centre in To Kwa Wan to mark the launch of the HSICP.

The event was officiated by government officials and community leaders, including the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Miss Alice Mak, and Managing Director of the URA Ir Wai Chi-sing.

HSICP offers tailored safety solutions for underprivileged families

The HSICP aims to improve residential safety by offering tailored home safety and fire protection solutions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ir Wai Chi-sing, Managing Director of the URA, said: “Seeking to enhance safety in consideration of diverse demographic profiles and living conditions within older districts, the HSICP provides tailored home safety improvement solutions and advances residential and fire protection among beneficiary families.”

The programme is a result of collaboration between various stakeholders, including government departments, professional bodies, and community organisations.

The URA plans to enhance the living conditions of elderly residents and low-income families living in old districts through this initiative.

HSICP follows the success of previous programmes

Since 2018, the URA has implemented the Home Repair Services Community Programme (HRSCP) in the same districts.

This initiative involved home repair ambassadors and volunteer workers offering free services such as appliance inspections, power socket replacements, and minor repairs for elderly and low-income families.

To date, more than 5,000 households have benefited from this programme.

Building on the experience gained from the HRSCP, the HSICP was introduced in July 2024 to expand the scope of support.

The new programme now includes Kwun Tong and aims to reach more families in need of safety improvements in old buildings.

One-year programme targets improved safety and fire protection

The HSICP will run for a year and is expected to benefit over 1,000 households across five districts.

In addition to free home repairs, the programme offers safety assessments, installation of essential fire protection facilities, and education on safety awareness.

The service extends to both individual units and, where feasible, the common areas of buildings.

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Institution of Fire Engineers are contributing professional advice, while local district services and community care teams will support the programme.

The URA aims to create a safer living environment for Hong Kong’s underprivileged families by leveraging this collaborative effort.

Hong Kong URA launches free home safety programme for elderly and low-income families: Summary

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has introduced the Home Safety Improvement Community Programme (HSICP) to provide free home safety and fire protection facilities to elderly and underprivileged families in several Hong Kong districts.

The programme is part of a broader effort to improve safety for those living in older buildings, particularly after several fires and accidents were reported in 2023.

The HSICP builds on the success of the URA’s previous Home Repair Services Community Programme (HRSCP) and aims to expand the scope of support to benefit over 1,000 households over the next year.

The programme is supported by community organisations, professional engineers, and government departments.