Damage-control bid after storm over Sham Shui Po homeless
Government departments forced to say how much they admire work of care providers after officials accuse them of aggravating problem
Two government departments released damage-control statements yesterday after officials blamed good-hearted citizens for aggravating the homeless problem in Sham Shui Po by feeding and caring for people sleeping in the streets.
The response by the departments of Home Affairs and Social Welfare followed angry comments from care providers who slammed the officials' remarks as "nonsense" and demanded an apology. The departments said they appreciated the work of the providers and did not mean to blame the street-sleeper problem on anyone.
Public outrage was ignited after remarks by the two officials at a meeting of the Sham Shui Po District Council on Tuesday.
District officer Benjamin Mok Kwan-yu said individuals and groups buying hot meals and caring for the homeless had encouraged them to move in from other districts. Assistant district social welfare officer Lee Yuen-hung said the activities had "lowered the incentive for street sleepers to take government help to move off the streets".
Lee said that while many organisations, individuals and local restaurants "use a lot of love to care for the street sleepers", they should think before they feed the poor.
"A lot of the incentives they provide are even bigger than the incentives [the government] gives," he said.