Volunteers are demanding answers from the government as to why they were turned away from donating necessities to temporary homeless shelters during some of the coldest weather Hong Kong has seen for decades, the SCMP reports.
One volunteer, Benson Tsang, said he tried three times to enter Nam Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po, carrying with him bags of clothing, shoes, gloves, heat packs and food for those staying at the shelter.
While he was allowed in on Sunday, he claims he was denied entry when coming with a group on Monday and Tuesday, and his donated goods were also turned away.
“[A staff member] said he had orders from his supervisors not to go in to visit or give [the homeless people] anything,” Tsang said. “I tried to reason with him, but he didn’t listen so I just barged in.”
The police were subsequently called and the volunteers were escorted away from the shelter.
The officers told Tsang they had received a complaint that they had barged into a private place, a claim that Tsang calls “absurd”– even though that’s exactly what he admits to in his above quote.
Ng Wai Tung, a full-time social worker of non-profit organisation the Society for Community Organisation, also mentioned having difficulties in bringing supplies into shelters.
“I would easily understand if they didn’t allow food or plants for hygiene reasons,” he said, “but there’s no reason why clothes and blankets shouldn’t be allowed.” Ng’s maybe never heard of bed bugs, but we absolutely salute his spirit.
However, the Home Affairs Department refuted the complaints, saying that the shelter’s security measures had to be monitored, and the privacy of those inside protected.
They also stressed that blankets, mattresses and hot food were already provided to guests.
