CityUHK Pioneers Rapid Community Care Model After Devastating Tai Po Fire
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
City University of Hong Kong mobilised comprehensive community support within five days of the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po on 26 November. The university established the CityUHK Community Chilling Hub, an innovative model integrating academia, public health and social care to provide psychosocial assistance. Led by Professor Cherry Tam, the initiative demonstrated how universities can transcend traditional boundaries to serve as first responders in community crises .
Key Points
- CityUHK responded to the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po on 26 November by deploying its academic resources within days
- The university organised a public lecture on resilience by 1 December, just five days after the fire
- Psychosocial support was immediately mobilised for affected primary school pupils
- Professor Cherry Tam, Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioural Science, spearheaded the response
- The CityUHK Community Chilling Hub emerged as an innovative model showcasing synergies between private, public and academic sectors
Why It Matters
The response demonstrated how mission-driven universities can act responsibly across established institutional structures, providing a replicable model for crisis intervention that bridges academia, public health and social care in Hong Kong .
The response demonstrated how mission-driven universities can act responsibly across established institutional structures, providing a replicable model for crisis intervention that bridges academia, public health and social care in Hong Kong .