More than 1,700 households affected by the devastating fire in Tai Po have each received HK$10,000 in emergency cash, the government on Monday said, and authorities are set to hand out a separate living allowance to residents of Wang Fuk Court starting this week.

At least 146 people are now known to have died from the deadly blaze as dozens remain unaccounted for.

There were more than 1,900 applications for the emergency subsidy as of Sunday, according to undersecretary for home and youth affairs Clarence Leung, who said the cash had been handed out to some 1,760 households.

"Our goal is to help residents who had to evacuate when the fire broke out and whose lives have been greatly affected," Leung told an RTHK programme.

"As tenants are residents there, they are eligible to apply [for the subsidies]. In the event of duplicate applications, we will follow up on each one individually."

In addition to the emergency subsidy, the government will begin giving out HK$50,000 as a living allowance.

Family members of each deceased victim will get an additional HK$200,000 as a token of solidarity, along with HK$50,000 for funeral and related expenses.

On temporary housing arrangements, Leung said around 2,100 affected residents have moved into youth hostels, hotels and transitional homes for the time being.

Two temporary shelters remain operational to house around 40 people, he added.

General information about support services can be found at the government's one-stop dedicated website www.taipofire.gov.hk