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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987
MR LI SAID THE PROBLEM OF STREET SLEEPERS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ALONE.
HE SAID THAT FOR INSTANCE THE 1985 ANNUAL REVIEW SUGGESTED THAT FOR STREET SLEEPERS WHO COULD NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT DUE TO "FINANCIAL OR MOBILITY DIFFICULTIES" MIGHT SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE.
HOWEVER, MR LI SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD TOLD HIM THAT THEY DID NOT EXTEND THE SERVICE то STREET SLEEPERS BECAUSE THEY WERE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
"IT SEEMS THE GOVERNMENT NFED TO FOSTER BETTER COOPERATION AWARENESS AMONG THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS, HE SAID,
AND
MR LI ALSO SAID THE VOLUNTARY WORKERS, SUCH AS THE STREET SLEEPERS SHELTER SOCIETY, AND THE CHRISTIAN YOUTH SERVICE ORGANISATION'S "YOUTH WITH A MISSION", WERE DOING AN EXEMPLARY JOB DESPITE LIMITED FUNDS.
HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES HAD CONCLUDED THAT NO SINGLE AGENCY WAS PROPERLY EMPOWERED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF STREET SLEEPERS EITHER AT POLICY OR FIELDWORK LEVEL.
COMMITTEE TO HELP STREET SLEEPERS WELCOMED
* * * * *
THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WELCOMEI> A MOVE BY HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED TO SET UP A CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE TO STEP UP SERVICES FOR STREET SLEEPERS.
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS, MR CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING TWO DAY RELIEF CUM TEMPORARY SHELTERS FOR STREET SLEEPERS, AS WELL AS SOME BASIC CLEANING UP SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH LONG HAIRS.
HE SAID THE NUB OF THE PROBLEM WAS ΤΟ WHAT EXTENT THE PROCEDURE SHOULD BECOME MANDATORY IN THE GENERAL, PUBLIC INTEREST AND HAVING REGARD TO STANDARD OF PUBLIC HYGIENE AND MORALITY, WITHOUT GROSS INFRINGEMENT ON THE RIGHTS AND PERSONAL NEEDS OF THE STREET SLEEPERS WITH THEIR VERY PERSONAL AND INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS.
DRAWN
HE ADDED THAT THE PROCEDURES WOULD HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY UP, PUBLICISED AND ACCEPTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC BEFORE ENFORCEMENT,
/HE SAID