XN000022-1989-01-25 — Page 8

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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