XN000022-1989-05-03 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1989

-5

SOME SUCCESS IN FINDING ACCOMMODATION FOR STREET SLEEPERS

TO FIND PERMANENT

SOME SUCCESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN TRYING ACCOMMODATION FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF STREET SLEEPERS, THE SECRETARY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR T. H. CHAU, TOLD THE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

EFFORT TO

SAID

LOCATE BE CONVERTED INTO INCLUDING STREBT

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR CHAU

DEPARTMENT'S AS A RESULT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DISUSED BUILDINGS IN THE URBAN AREA WHICH COULD HOSTELS TO PROVIDE REHOUSING FOR HOMELESS PERSONS, SLEEPERS, A HOSTEL MANAGED BY THE SALVATION ARMY WAS OPENED IN THE SIX STREETS REDEVELOPMENT AREA OF YAU MA TEI IN NOVEMBER 1988.

INTENDED TO

"THIS HOSTEL IS PART OF A PILOT SCHEME WHICH IS TEST THE RESPONSE OF STREET SLEEPERS TO THE PROVISION OF URBAN HOSTELS OFFERING LONGER TERM ACCOMMODATION ON A 24 HOUR BASIS," MR CHAU SAID.

FEASIBILITY ALLOCATED

TO EXPAND THE PILOT SCHEME AND TO FURTHER TEST THE OF THIS APPROACH, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN $2.3 MILLION BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TO SECURE PREMISES FOR USE AS A SECOND SUCH HOSTEL, HE NOTED.

THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOW IDENTIFYING SUITABLE PREMISES FOR PURPOSE, IF POSSIBLE IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT, HE ADDED.

THIS

CHAU MR

INCLUDE

MEMBERSHIP OF THE ALSO

OUT THAT THE POINTED ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON STREET SLEEPERS HAD BEEN EXPANDED TO TWO MEMBERS OF THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE SECTOR.

OF THE HONG KONG OFFICER OF THE

HE SAID ONE MEMBER WAS A REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE WHILST THE OTHER WAS AN SALVATION ARMY.

"UNFORTUNATELY, EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A SMALL SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH FOR ONE ANOTHER SLEEPS ON THE STREETS," MR CHAU SAID.

PROBABLY

REASON OR

APPROACH

"I BELIEVE THAT OUR POLICY OF ADOPTING A PERSONALISED OF COUNSELLING AND PERSUASION TO ENCOURAGE STREET SLEEPERS TO MAKE USE

RANGE OF THE WIDE

OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM APPROPRIATE WAY OF MINIMISING THIS SOCIAL PROBLEM."

IS THE MOST

/6