TNAG-1732-FCO40-2445-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 66

Too-ordinating

Street Sleepers

Committee on

Question 'No.9

LFARE

WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & WELFARE TÓ A QUESTION ASKED BY THE HON. HUT YIN-FAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 8 JUNE 1988

9. MR. HUI asked:

Question:

Will Government inform this Council what progress has been made by the Coordinating Committee on Street Sleepers since its formation in 1987, and whether consideration will be given to reviewing its terms of reference in the near future in the light of recommendations made by various bodies

following the declaration of 1987 as the Year of Shelter for the Homeless by the United. Nations?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

sir,

le

la

بعاد

The terms of reference of the Coordinating

Committee on Street Sleepers are to review Government's

policies and programmes in order to coordinate action

coordinate relating to street sleepers."

The Committee, in complying with its terms of

reference, has conducted a review of Government's policies

and programmes relating to street sleepers. This review,

which was completed towards the end of last year,

concluded that the personalised approach which is used in

helping street sleepers remains appropriate, and that the

necessary services are available for those street sleepers

who wish to make use of them. In the course of the

review, the Committee proposed improvements to the

procedures whereby street sleepers can obtain replacement

identity cards and medical treatment; these improvements

have been implemented.

7

The Committee also examined possible measures

which would reduce the street sleeping problem in the longfterm, and it has recommended that certain categories