WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1989
7
WIDER HOSTEL PROGRAMME FOR HOMELESS MAY BE STUDIED
* * * *
A
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER INITIATING HOSTEL PROGRAMME FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, INCLUDING STREET SLEEPERS, IF HOSTEL OPENED IN YAU MA TEI LAST YEAR OPERATES SUCCESSFULLY.
CHAU, TOLD THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H.
(WEDNESDAY} WHEN REPLYING TO A THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY QUESTION FROM THE HON ELSIE TU.
MR CHAU SAID THE MAJOR CONSTRAINT TO SUCH A PROGRAMME WOULD IDENTIFYING SUITABLE PREMISES.
BE
AND
SUITABLE
THEY FOR
"THE GOVERNMENT'S ACCOMMODATION DIVISION AND THE BUILDINGS LANDS DEPARTMENT ARE THEREFORE EXAMINING, AT MY REQUEST, WHETHER
DISUSED
VACANT OR HAVE ANY CONVERSION INTO HOSTELS," HE SAID.
PREMISES
WHICH
MAY
BE
FOR SOME TIME COULD HOMELESS PERSONS,
MR CHAU SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN TRYING TO LOCATE DISUSED BUILDINGS IN THE URBAN AREA WHICH BE CONVERTED INTO HOSTELS TO PROVIDE REHOUSING FOR INCLUDING STREET SLEEPERS.
HOSTEL "SOME SUCCESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AND A
WAS OPENED IN NOVEMBER 1988 IN SALVATION ARMY REDEVELOPMENT AREA OF YAU MA TEI.
THE
MANAGED BY THE SIX STREETS
SLEEPERS SHELTER CHAI
"THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO ASSISTED THE STREET SOCIETY TO LOCATE PREMISES FOR SHELTERS IN MALLORY STREET IN WAN AND IN SHANGHAI STREET IN YAU MA TEI," HE SAID.
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB HAD MR CHAU SAID THE ROYAL
RECENTLY DEPARTMENT TO PURCHASE ALLOCATED $2.3 MILLION TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE FLATS FOR CONVERSION INTO HOSTELS.
THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HAD BEEN INVITED TO ASSIST IDENTIFYING PREMISES FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.
IN
ΤΟ
CANNOT
DEPARTMENT
WILL
CONSIDER
TRAVEL LONG WHETHER
"AS TO ACCOMMODATION FOR ELDERLY STREET SLEEPERS WHO WORK BUT
DISTANCES,
THE
THE PEOPLE
SOCIAL CONCERNED
ARE ABLE
"IN ADDITION,
PEOPLE AGED
ELIGIBLE FOR IMMEDIATE PERMANENT
AUTHORITY'S COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING QUOTA,'"
ADMISSION INTO MOST URBAN HOSTELS AND SHELTERS FOR THE HOMELESS.
"THESE
HOSTELS AND
ARE RUN BY WHICH CHARITY, CARITAS, AND PROVIDED
SHELTERS,
ARE IN VACANT PREMISES
AGENCIES SUCH AS THE MISSIONARIES OF HAND, AND A FEW OF WHICH
VOLUNTARY HELPING
BY THE
GOVERNMENT, CURRENTLY PROVIDE OVER 1,000 PLACES TO HOMELESS PERSONS."
REHOUSING
UNDER HE SAID.
THE
WELFARE WOULD BE HOUSING
55 OVER
ARE
GIVEN PRIORITY
IN
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