A lawmaker has appealed to the Hong Kong government to show more empathy as subways, makeshift shelters for the city’s homeless, are jet-cleaned, even during the current cold weather.
During a Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services on Monday, Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Tang Ka-piu appealed to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to refrain from washing floors in districts with a high population of homeless people, particularly during the colder weather.
The request came after pictures of workers washing pedestrian tunnels were released online, angering concerned netizens, HKFP reports.
“I don’t understand, everyone knows it’s cold, and yet [the government] is still cleaning places where homeless people are commonly found… under such special circumstances, shouldn’t we be more understanding and not wet their blankets?” Tang said.
Labour Party’s Fernando Cheung also raised concerns about whether elderly care homes had sufficient heating, while Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung insisted the Social Welfare Department made preparations for the weather.
Cold shelters have been open for 24 hours a day, while local charities have been providing supplies to the needy.
In the meantime, a group of students visited the cold shelters on Sunday night to hand out homemade congee and donate items such as clothing and shoes, Ming Pao reported. The Street Sleepers Action Committee also visited cold shelters to dish out hot soup.
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