XN000022-1990-09-27 — Page 11

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1990

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"MANY OF THEM DO NOT SHOW ANY INTEREST IN RECEIVING WELFARE SERVICES," THE SPOKESMAN NOTED.

ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, THERE WERE 979 CASES OF STREET SLEEPERS DECLINING OFFERS OF ACCOMMODATION ASSISTANCE WHICH MIGHT BE IN THE FORM OF COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING, TEMPORARY SHELTER, PRIVATE TENEMENT, HOME/HOSTEL FOR THE AGED AND TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.

"AT PRESENT, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 1,071 SHELTERS/HOSTELS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

——

PLACES IN TEMPORARY

"OF THESE, 1,031 ARE BEING PROVIDED IN 17 SHELTERS OR HOSTELS

VOLUNTARY OPERATED BY SIX

AGENCIES

CARITAS HONG KONG, STREET SLEEPERS SHELTERS SOCIETY TRUSTEE INCORPORATED, MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY, SALVATION ARMY, STREET SLEEPERS ACTION COMMITTEE AND HELPING HAND.

"THE REMAINING 40 PLACES ARE PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AT ITS ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE."

MEANWHILE, REFERRING TO RECENT PRESS REPORTS THAT A POLICE RAID AT A YAU MA TEI STREET SLEEPERS SHELTER RESULTED IN MORE THAN 20 PEOPLE QUESTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH DANGEROUS DRUGS ACTIVITIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SHELTER IN QUESTION WAS NOT OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT NOR BY AN ORGANISATION RECEIVING SUBVENTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT.

TOPPING OUT OF AMS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING

THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES, WHICH WILL CELEBRATE ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WILL SOON HAVE ITS OWN HOME

AN EIGHT-STOREY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN HO MAN TIN, KOWLOON.

ASPREY, THE ACTING

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, MR PAUL CORSER, AND THE COMMISSIONER OF AMS, DR S.H. LEE, TODAY (THURSDAY) JOINTLY OFFICIATED AT THE BUILDING'S TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY.

THE $50 MILLION BUILDING WITH STANDARD LECTURE ROOMS, SIMULATED WARDS, SYNDICATE ROOMS, COVERED PARADE GROUND FOR TRAINING PURPOSES AND OTHER FACILITIES WILL BE READY EARLY NEXT YEAR.

ADDRESSING THE GATHERING, MR ASPREY DESCRIBED THE PROJECT AS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMS.

SINCE THE FORMATION OF AMS IN 1950, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS HAD INCREASED FROM 2,000 TO OVER 5,000, HE NOTED.

H

THE AMS CONTINUES TO HAVE A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPLEMENTING THE REGULAR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AT TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES. BUT IT HAS ALSO TAKEN A MUCH WIDER ROLE OVER THE HE SAID.

YEARS,

/THE AMS