XN000022-1978-01-08 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 1978

STREET-SLEEPERS -- NOT FORGOTTEN

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AN OLD WOMAN WHO SPENT MANY NIGHTS SLEEPING IN THE COLD AND DAMP STREET HAS FINALLY FOUND A PLACE SHE COULD CALL HOME.

THE OLD WOMAN IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY STREET-SLEEPERS WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN ASSISTANCE BY THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE STORY OF HER BEING DISCOVERED SLEEPING IN A REAR LANE REVEALS ONE OF THE MANY WAYS HOW THE DIVISION LOCATES SUCH PEOPLE.

IT ALL STARTED ONE MORNING WHEN A YOUNG SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL IN HIS OFFICE GIVING HIM SKETCHY INFORMATION ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THIS OLD WOMAN.

THIS IMMEDIATELY PROMPTED HIM INTO ACTION.

HE WENT TO A REAR LANE IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT DESCRIBED BY THE CALLER, PEERING INTO EVERY DARK CORNER, IN THE HOPE OF FINDING THIS OLD WOMAN. THE MORNING SEARCH WAS FUTILE,

UNDAUNTED. THE OFFICER WENT BACK TO THE AREA AFTER LUNCH AND EXTENDED HIS SEARCH TO COVER EVERY SIDE LANE NEARBY, MAKING ENQUIRIES AS HE WENT ALONG.

AFTER MANY HOURS OF PATIENT SEARCH, HE FINALLY CAME ACROSS A WOMAN THAT ANSWERED THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN ON THE TELEPHONE.

THE WOMAN, WHO HAS NEITHER FRIENDS NOR RELATIVES, AT FIRST REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE CARED ABOUT HER. BUT THE SINCERITY OF THE OFFICER EVENTUALLY MADE HER LEAVE WITH HIM ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT SHE WOULD BE GIVEN ASSISTANCE AND A HOME.

HER PLIGHT HAS SINCE COME TO AN END AND SHE IS NOW LIVING COMFORTABLY IN A HOME FOR THE AGED WITH THE CARE AND WARMTH THAT WAS DENIED HER FOR YEARS.

SA ID

MRS. EVELYN DOE, HEAD OF THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION, THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STREET-SLEEPERS IN HONG KONG AS THEY WANDER FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

+HOWEVER, MORE THAN 150 CASES HAD BEEN DEALT WITH BY OUR

SOCIAL WORKERS LAST YEAR,+

/MRS. DOS NOTED