1,400 homeless sleeping on Hong Kong's streets, double government estimates

The number of homeless people in Hong Kong is likely to be double that of previous government estimates, a City University study has found.

The university, with the help of three other community organisations, puts the figure at 1,414 - far higher than the government's last citywide tally of 674 made more than 15 years ago.

The eight-month Homeless Outreach Population Estimation project involved a count at 180 locations, including temporary shelters and 24-hour restaurant chains. The university also surveyed 323 homeless people and found 40 per cent were supporting themselves through low-paying jobs, with an average salary of HK$5,688. About half the respondents had attended high school.

Constance Ching Wing-lok, project supervisor of the City-Youth Empowerment Project, which organised the study, said rising rents and perpetually low incomes had forced many working people onto the streets.

"Many of these homeless people don't earn enough even for a subdivided flat, which costs at least HK$3,800 these days."

Ching said previous government figures did not accurately depict the problem as they did not include those living in temporary shelters or other temporary accommodation.