SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1975
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ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO DROWNED GIRL'S FAMILY
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THE DOWNPOUR ON APRIL 30, 1975 CAUSED A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS FROM VARIOUS LOW LYING AREAS AND SQUATTERS IN THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT TO TAKE TEMPORARY SHELTER IN THE VARIOUS WELFARE BUILDINGS AND KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS.
ABOUT 150 RESIDENTS OF KOWLOON BAY (WEST) LICENSED AREA ALSO TOOK SHELTER AT THE NGAU TAU KOK POLICE STATION. STAFF FROM THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (KWUN TONG) LOST NO TIME IN ARRANGING TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR THEM AND TWO WELFARE BUILDINGS IN LAM TIN WERE OPENED FOR THIS PURPOSE. TRANSPORT FACILITIES WERE ALSO ARRANGED TO CONVEY THOSE REGISTERED WITH THE CONTROL CENTRE INSIDE THE NGAU TAU KOK STATION TO THE SHELTERS. UP TO AROUND 4.30 P.M. ONLY 36 PEOPLE FROM 6 FAMILIES HAD REGISTERED WITH THE CENTRE AS THE HEAVY RAIN HAD ALREADY STOPPED AND THE FLOOD WAS RECEDING. C.D.O. STAFF CONTINUED TO INFORM THE RESIDENTS THAT THEY COULD STILL GO UP TO THE LAM TIN SHELTERS ALTHOUGH THEY WERE FREE TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICE IN RETURNING HOME. COORDINATION WORK OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (KWUN TONG) CONTINUED UNTIL SOMETIME SHORTLY BEFORE MIDNIGHT BUT NONE OF THE RESIDENTS MOVED UP TO THE LAM TIN SHELTERS.
SOMEWHAT DISTINCT FROM THE FLOODING WHICH OCCURED AND RECEDED EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON WAS THE DEATH OF A 6-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WAS DROWNED WHEN SHE FELL INTO A GUTTER AT AROUND 7.30 P.M. — SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE FLOODING EFFORTS TO RESCUE THE GIRL FAILED AND SHE WAS FOUND DEAD AT AROUND MIDNIGHT.
A SPOKESMAN OF C.D.0. KWUN TONG EXPRESSED REGRET FOR THE INCIDENT AND SAID THAT STRENUOUS EFFORTS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE TO HELP THE FAMILY OF THE GIRL. AS AN IMMEDIATE RELIEF MEASURE, $600 FROM A CHARITY FUND HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE FAMILY WITH WHOM THE G.D.O. STAFF IS KEEPING CLOSE CONTACT. THEY WERE ALSO ASSISTED IN THEIR APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
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