Hong Kong warns 4 other disabled care homes over unrest following arrest

The Hong Kong government has sent letters to four other care homes for people with disabilities, warning them to follow policies aimed at preventing harassment, amid concerns over standards sparked by the arrest of a staff member at a fifth facility on rape charges.

Social care authorities said on Friday they had updated their code of practice earlier this month to improve CCTV monitoring standards, requiring disabled care homes to clearly allocate staff and set time slots in which they can watch CCTV footage in real time.

It also called on facilities to explain how and when the footage was taken and to create transparent records that inspectors could check.

The government said the official warnings were issued after it was found that care homes had failed to put in place effective measures to protect residents from harassment, which is in breach of the requirements of the Care Homes (Disability) Code of Conduct.

Labor and Social Welfare Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han said authorities urged the centers and the Department of Social Welfare to improve.

“The Department of Social Welfare must carry out its monitoring and supervision tasks carefully. Warning letters were sent to individual homes on suspicion of rule violations or shortcomings, Sun said.