There are homeless people in Hong Kong: pushing them out of sight is no solution

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The bright lights of Hong Kong cannot obscure its dire housing problem, and the deplorable living conditions of the city’s most vulnerable. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 11:48pm, 23 Aug 2018Updated: 11:48pm, 23 Aug 2018

I am writing to express my concern regarding the article, “Priced out and living above a rubbish dump: where do Hong Kong’s rough sleepers go?” (August 12). I was shocked and saddened to read about people living in homeless shelters above a rubbish collection centre, or spending their nights at 24-hour McDonald’s outlets to save on rent or on utility bills amid the summer heat.

As a child, I used to think Hong Kong was a prosperous city. Its gleaming skyscrapers are proof of this. But the housing problem – especially the deplorable living conditions of the poor – is Hong Kong’s ugly little secret.

Indeed, Hong Kong’s distorted property market is a notorious problem and the cause of many of society’s troubles. It is hard to go about our lives pretending everything is all right, knowing that a group of people are being neglected and forced to live in such unbelievably dreadful conditions. Of course, there are those who speak out for the socially vulnerable, including the homeless. But has the government done enough to alleviate this problem?

Save our McRefugees

A “McRefugee” in Sham Shui Po, in August 2018. A survey found that the number of Hong Kong people sleeping in McDonald’s outlets had increased sixfold over the past five years. Photo: Roy Issa

How Hong Kong is designed to keep the homeless out of sight

It is ironic that the Social Welfare Department believes the needs of street sleepers can be well looked after with current strategies and support services. My heart broke to read reports last month of how the homeless had been driven from a footbridge in Sham Shui Po.

Promoting Hong Kong’s international image is important. However, the priority of the government should be to alleviate the problems of the most vulnerable, instead of covering its eyes and pretending they do not exist. Neglecting the homeless is no solution.

Antonia Kwan, Kwai Chung