TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 78

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They live on double-decker or triple-decker bunks in cheap boarding houses. To provide a minimal degree of security and privacy, the bed spaces are fenced in by chicken wire. maximise occupancy, the bunks are clamped closely together. According to a recent survey, as many as 100 bed spaces are found in some boarding houses. The average number is 50 bed spaces per flat. The average bed space per person is 1.4

square metres.

Communal bathrooms and toilets are available in these boarding houses. The ratio of lodgers to bathroom is 18.7 to 1 and the ratio of lodgers to toilet is 22.7 to 1. Cooking facilities are far from adequate. Residents usually cook in

corridors and staircases and sometimes on rooftops. The boarding houses are over-crowded, poorly ventilated, poorly illuminated and unsanitary. In a word, the conditions are

appalling.

A large proportion of these lodgers came to Hong Kong from China in the sixties. The majority of them have no relatives in Hong Kong, and many are living on public assistance. Most are unable to move out because they cannot afford to rent private housing. Some are unwilling to move because they want to live near to their place of work and to be among friends.

The plight of these elderly men has attracted considerable public attention. I first raised this topic in this Council Chamber in 1980, but the problem is still with us today. I therefore urge the Government to take action to move

them to proper housing.

This group of elderly persons will have different housing needs. Some of them are still physically fit, and it is best that they are rehoused in self-contained public housing for single persons. If possible, the lodgers should be housed together so that they could be among friends and help to take