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The Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Pamela Tan, visited Henry G. Leong Yau Ma Tei Community Centre tonight (January 7) to examine the operation of the HAD temporary cold shelter at the centre and to visit those seeking refuge from the cold and in need of the service.
䩕It is important to provide temporary shelter to people in need of refuge during cold spells. Apart from providing shelter from the cold, meals, blankets and mattresses are offered at temporary cold shelters managed by the Home Affairs Department,蒅 Mrs Tan said.
When the Cold Weather Warning is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the temporary shelters, located throughout the territory, will open from around 5.30pm to 8.30am the next day. Mrs Tan urged street-sleepers and other people in need of the service to visit one of the centres.
In 2006, cold shelters were activated for 23 nights, with more than 8,200 people seeking temporary accommodation service.
Ten cold shelters, including the Henry G. Leong Yau Ma Tei Community Centre, opened today following the issue of the Cold Weather Warning.
As at nine o﷿clock tonight, more than 280 people are taking refuge in the shelters. Anyone seeking temporary refuge may call the department﷿s Emergency Co-ordination Centre on 2835 1473 for more information.
Ends/Sunday, January 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 21:14
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