Friday, October 10, 2008

Hong Kong injects HKD 1.2 mn to support crisis hit people

Beijing , Oct 10 : Hong Kong Government has announced that it will pump in 1.2 million Hong Kong Dollar to extend support to people facing family-related and other emotional problems on account of all-pervasive global financial crisis.

" Like other economies, Hong Kong is being affected by the global financial turmoil to a certain extent. Some people may face personal financial crisis as a result of investment failure and unemployment as well as difficulties with their emotions, family relationship and accommodation etc," Social Welfare Department (SWD) of Hong Kong said in a statement.

To address their needs, the CEASE Crisis Centre and the Family Crisis Support Centre would each be allocated a HKD 6,00,000 to set up a Financial Crisis Emotional Support Hotline to provide counseling service," it further added.

CEASE Crisis Centre is operated by the Hong Kong's Tung Wah Group of Hospitals whereas Caritas, an organisation working worldwide for eradication of poverty and social inequality, operates the Family Crisis Support Centre.

Commencing from Monday, hotlines would be manned by registered social workers around the clock, it said.

"In addition, social workers will provide face-to-face counseling and organise support groups to help individuals and families with emotional or family problems arising from personal financial crisis by strengthening their skills in coping with stress and working out positive ways to manage their problems," the statement added.

Besides, social workers would also refer cases to appropriate welfare services for follow-up, SWD added.

The Hang Seng Index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today closed down 7.19 per cent at 14,796.87 points.

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