Naked elderly care home in Hong Kong wasn't prosecuted despite numerous warnings because each time it 'showed improvement'
Shamed residence wasn't prosecuted after acting sufficiently on department letters
A nursing home which left elderly people naked or half-dressed on an open-air podium before they washed was not previously prosecuted - despite several warnings - because each time it showed improvement, the Social Welfare Department said yesterday.
An investigation is also under way regarding the change of certain areas of the home into a supermarket.
Footage taken by Chinese newspaper Ming Pao revealed residents of the Cambridge Nursing Home in Tai Po were left exposed for up to 90 minutes, with male and female residents stripped together and a number of women covering themselves with their hands.
"The nursing home received numerous warning letters from us. However, [each time] they followed our instructions to improve so we did not prosecute,' said Carol Yip Man-kuen, director of social welfare.
The department has inspected the home 96 times and issued 15 warning letters over the past five years.
A service booth under the department's designated help desk would be set up at the integrated family service centre on Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po today to provide relocation advice to residents and relatives. The group has so far contacted the families of 57 affected residents.