More Help Urged For Growing Number Of 'McRefugees'

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2018-04-09 HKT 17:23

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  Ng Wai-tung from the Society for Community Organisation says there are least 1,800 people sleeping rough in Hong Kong. Photo: RTHK

Ng Wai-tung speaks to RTHK's Candice Wong

A concern group on Monday urged the government to provide more beds for the homeless, saying more and more people are now spending their nights in fast food outlets.

The Society for Community Organisation (Soco) said more than 380 people regularly slept in 24-hour restaurants last year, up from around 60 five years ago.

Officials say there are about 640 beds available for street sleepers across the city. But Soco's Ng Wai-tung told Candice Wong that more support is needed.

Ng said the government should increase the number of hostel places for homeless people and also the length of time they are allowed to stay in the accommodation.

"They can only stay for half a year. This is the upper limit. So after these six months they have to move out and they will become homeless again," he said.

Ng added that Soco believes there are around 1,800 people sleeping rough in Hong Kong.