Salaried People Joining 'McRefugees': Lawmaker

A lawmaker on Tuesday warned that the number of homeless in Hong Kong is rising quickly, with even those who earn around HK$10,000 finding it difficult to find a decent roof over their head.

Labour Party lawmaker Fernando Cheung also said that more women and children are joining the homeless ranks and there are very few facilities catering for them.

Commenting on the Society for Community Organisation survey released on Monday which said more than 380 people regularly slept in 24-hour restaurants last year, Cheung said the number is bound to jump as the summer heat increases.

Many sub-divided flats will become even more difficult to stay in during the summer heat and people will also seek the safety of air conditioned restaurants like 24-hour McDonald's outlets, he said.

Activists say the rising number of so-called McRefugees is a symbol of how unaffordable housing has become in Hong Kong.

Cheung said even according to the official figures, there are around 1,000 homeless people in Hong Kong. The estimate by welfare organisations is double that, he said.

He told RTHK's Mike Weeks that even those with jobs can not find accommodation near their workplace as housing prices and rents have squeezed them out.