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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1993
MORE URBAN HOSTELS FOR STREET SLEEPERS
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THE URBAN HOSTEL SCHEME FOR STREET SLEEPERS WILL BE EXPANDED TO PROVIDE MORE FACILITIES AND SERVICES, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, DR S H LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHIM PUI-CHUNG, DR LEE SAID SEVEN ADDITIONAL URBAN HOSTELS HAD BEEN PLANNED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE ANOTHER 230 PLACES.
BETWEEN JANUARY AND SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, 62 STREET SLEEPERS HAD MOVED OFF THE STREET TO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, PRIVATE HOUSING, URBAN HOSTELS, RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES OR TEMPORARY SHELTERS.
AS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT RECORDED 1,069 STREET SLEEPERS IN HONG KONG.
ASKED WHETHER CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO ACCOMMODATING STREET SLEEPERS IN VACANT BOAT PEOPLE CENTRES, DR LEE SAID THEY WERE MOST UNLIKELY TO BE ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THESE CENTRES WERE LOCATED IN REMOTE AREAS.
GOVT SEEKS INTERNATIONAL HELP TO SOLVE VIET PROBLEM
THE
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GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK TO SECURE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE COMMITMENTS NECESSARY TO BRING ABOUT AN EARLY RESOLUTION OF THE VIETNAMESE MIGRANT PROBLEM, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, ALISTAIR ASPREY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),'
IN
MR
A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON TANG SIU-TONG, MR ASPREY SAID THIS WOULD BE DONE IN A MEETING OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN GENEVA IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) WAS COMMITTED TO MEETING THE COST OF THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN HONG KONG.
"HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED FULLY TO DISCHARGE THIS OBLIGATION," MR ASPREY SAID.
AT THE END OF LAST MONTH, THE UNHCR OWED THE GOVERNMENT $837
MILLION.
MR ASPREY SAID THERE WAS NO PRECISE TIMETABLE FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THE DEBT.
/THE GOVERNMENT