FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1986
10
HOSTEL PILOT SCHEME BEGINS
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ELDERLY BACHELORS LIVING IN CRAMPED BED-SPACE APARTMENTS IN SHAM SHUI PO WILL SOON FIND BETTER ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE AT A WELL-MANAGED NON-PROF IT-MAKING HOSTEL.
THE SALVATION ARMY KEE ON HOSTEL, ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF 250 KI LUNG STREET, CAN COMFORTABLY ACCOMMODATE 16 PEOPLE, AT A NOMINAL RENT.
THE HOSTEL IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND THE SALVATION ARMY.
AT A LEASE-SIGNING CEREMONY THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHEME, MR TAI TUNG-NGOK, WHO SPONSORED THE PREMISES, HANDED OVER THE TENANCY AGREEMENT TO THE SALVATION ARMY.
THE ARMY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOSTEL, WHICH HAS A THREE-YEAR LEASE.
EACH TENANT WILL HAVE TO PAY A MONTHLY RENT OF ONLY $267.
MR TAI SAID THE AIM OF SETTING UP THE HOSTEL WAS TO PROVIDE INTER IM ACCOMMODATION, RECREATIONAL, RELIGIOUS AND COUNSELLING SERVICES TO SINGLE ELDERLY MEN PENDING THEIR ADMISSION TO HOMES FOR THE AGED OR TO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
THERE ARE AT PRESENT ABOUT 700 RESIDENTS LIVING IN 21 PRIVATELY-RUN BED-SPACE APARTMENTS IN SHAM SHUI PO.
MR TAI SAID THE HOSTEL WAS BEING ESTABLISHED ON A PILOT BASIS. SIMILAR HOSTELS WOULD BE DEVELOPED IF THE SCHEME PROVED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
DETAILS OF THE HOSTEL AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW OBTAINABLE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND SUB-OFFICES AS WELL AS AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES AND SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS IN SHAM SHUI PO.
THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT ASSISTANCE SCHEME, FORMERLY NAMED THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND SQUATTERS ASSISTANCE SCHEME, IS A LOCAL ORGANISATION FORMED BY 14 COMMUNITY LEADERS IN 1984 TO OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR AND THE UNDERPRIVILEGED IN THE DISTRICT.
THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR SYLVESTER TSE, IS THE HONORARY ADVISER TO THE SCHEME.
THROUGH THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE SCHEME HAS SO FAR GRANTED ABOUT $55 000 TO RESIDENTS FOR VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND EMERGENCY RELIEF ACTIVITIES.
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