District 18 News
Written by: Lu Nuojun, Li Yinglin, and Huang Diwen
2019-12-26 00:00
Last updated: 2019-12-26 00:00The Christmas season is celebrated all over the world, but a group of homeless people can even have a basic cold protection problem. The Hong Kong Community Organizations Association earlier received help from street sleepers in Sham Shui Po District, claiming that more than 20 riot police suddenly entered the Tongzhou Street Park for two consecutive days (21 and 22) during the winter solstice on the grounds of "necessary investigation". "Clearance" with LCSD staff and cleaners. It is known that they threatened and demanded the street sleepers to leave the park within 15 minutes, otherwise they would make arrests and quickly discard the personal belongings of the street sleepers.
The association said that in the past, "clearance" operations were rarely carried out by police officers, and prior notice would be given, describing the government department's dispatch during the winter festival as "killing everything". Some street sleepers have been thrown away because of work during the day, and they can only sleep on paper. Others have lost their cash, documents, and clothing, but they have no choice but to return to the park. The officers came again at any time, and they were all worried.
The area of Tongzhou Street Park in Sham Shui Po has always been a concentration area for street sleepers. (Photo by Li Yinglin)
The area of Tongzhou Street Park in Sham Shui Po has always been a concentration area for street sleepers. Among them, the unused pedestrian overpass in Changxinli and the underpass of the overpass in Tongzhou Street were used to be "homes of street sleepers". Later, they were gradually closed down by government agencies on the grounds of "obstructing health". Street sleepers have lost their settlements, but many of them are disabled or wheelchair-bound people who find it difficult to find a suitable place to live. They are only "forced to move" to the nearby Tongzhou Street Park. It is understood that at least 50 street sleepers live in Tongzhou Street Park on weekdays, most of them are locals aged 5 or 60, and some are from Vietnam and other places.
A few days ago, the Hong Kong Community Organizations Association received help from street sleepers in the park, saying that riot police officers, LCSD staff and cleaners suddenly came to the "clearance" and lost a lot of personal belongings. According to the officer of the association, if cleaning operations are to be carried out under normal procedures, the cleaners will post a notice in advance to inform the homeless about the arrangements; afterwards, the association learned from the LCSD that the other party stated that they only implemented the "Police Request" that day The operation dealt with crimes involving the police. However, the association questioned that the riot police had no reason to drive the street sleepers, and the police did not search for the items, but just threw them into the garbage station. A group of street sleepers suffered heavy losses. Some were more fortunate to find some of the items at the garbage station, and some lost most of their belongings.
"Then I defile the smoke and gas, so do I feel it."
A Ming, 40, went to work on the day of the incident. When the riot police arrived, he was not in the park. "When I returned to Xi, I saw the whole bed, and even the warm bag was buried." He said that day The friend "is difficult to protect himself", he only helped him to collect a small amount of clothing, and the bedding and mattresses that were thrown away were presented piece by piece by different charitable organizations. It took him more than a year to gather them. It ’s a good day for Chengri. The weather is freezing and even Zhang is buried.
As far as he can see, he can only spread paper on the ground and add a thin quilt borrowed from a friend to find a less appropriate place to sleep as a "bed". Amin thinks it ’s unreasonable to remove things without notice, and street sleepers just ca n’t afford the accommodation and are often stigmatized. “If I defile the smoke and gas, I do n’t know (I want to find a place). .I do n’t know how to clean up the trash on weekdays, and I do n’t even want to get a cleaner. "
"It's awful to say that (the most precious thing is left) is dignity, and the government is not my own."
A Qiang (pseudonym) in his 50s said that about 11:00 am on the 21st, about 30 riot police suddenly came to Tongzhou Street Park, and the street sleepers in the park "should walk away immediately within 15 minutes." At that time, some people told the police that because they had a lot of goods, they hoped to "save a little time", but the other party did not agree, and even said that "you will not take care of yourself." Even people fall into garbage trucks. " A Qiang, a disabled person, pointed out that he had to rush to pack things before the clothes were worn, and the police officers on the scene kept yelling and drinking, "The wind and rain have caused the image to be completely unacceptable. Someone spoke, and a few were surrounded. "Therefore no one dared to object.
A Qiang pointed out that in a hurry, he lost about 600 yuan in cash, which was a week's expenditure. He received the CSSA and admitted that he would only be able to cut back on food in the future. But when it comes to losing the most valuable thing, he said, "It's awful to talk about dignity. The government is blindly trying to avoid it. It's just me."
"Depart from me, can I go? I didn't know I could go."
Mr. Chen (a pseudonym) who had been sleeping for three years, was also present on the same day. He pointed out that the policemen who entered the park were wearing riot gear and masked, and their feet had muscle atrophy. He could only return to the garbage room afterwards to pick up Back to items. Mr. Chen revealed that in the past he worked in the transportation industry, but was unable to work afterwards. It was difficult to afford rents by relying on CSSA. "Through the area, the price is 1,800 mosquitoes per bed, and the number of people is dirty. It ’s better to spend it. ”He thinks that the government ’s blind drive is unfair.“ I ’m going to live in the apartment when it ’s in the ditch. You can go there? I do n’t know I can go there. . "
The reporter visited on Christmas Day, and some street sleepers said that at 8 am and 9 am on the same day, a city staff member brought the police to the scene to assist in cleaning up. His belongings were set aside in the park and quickly cleared away. Most of his clothes were confiscated, but temporarily Warm enough. He estimated that security had been beaten earlier, so the municipality strengthened inspections. Another street sleeper pointed out that he would be reminded before the municipal administration arrived, but it was not there that day. "The next day, I trained Yan Yan, and as soon as I arrived, I received it. I would waste everything and talk about it." It was said that the clothes had been taken away, and now there was only one pair of trousers left, and an extra cotton trouser was urgently needed.
There are also street sleepers who said that the municipal staff came for three consecutive days. After getting up at 5 am on the same day to clean up the housework, they left the housework under the overpass and left for work. It ’s awful, it ’s awful. ”At present, his luggage was almost empty, except for daily necessities such as toothbrushes, paper towels, a padded vest and two sports jackets. He said that the weather would be cooler tomorrow night. A long-sleeved sweater is urgently needed, "I need a shirt for work." Some churches in Tung Chung sent red bean paste and preached to the street sleepers during Christmas. They did not hear anyone coming to sweep the field.
Xue Jinping pointed out that neighboring areas such as Taipei have many policies that are friendly to street sleepers. (Photo by Li Yinglin)
Xue Jinping, director of the Hong Kong Community Organizations Association, pointed out that on weekdays government departments clear the market and they will be notified by stickers the day before. In the past, some joint operations in Tongzhou Street Park have involved staff from the police, land administration, and civil affairs, but most of them It was carried out by the LCSD, and it has never been tried by a riot police officer. She also pointed out that the organization has made many suggestions in the past, including adding lockers in the park to allow street sleepers to put things, etc. There are also many friendly policies for street sleepers in neighbouring areas such as Taipei, but in contrast to Hong Kong, it is just blindly Expulsion, "Increased railings, constantly clearing the market, etc. In fact, street sleepers live in places and will return to the end. Expulsion makes the channels scattered, but it makes it more difficult for institutions that care about them."
Xue Jinping continued to point out that in the long run, he hopes that the government will increase the number of dormitories and places. "There are eight or nine homeless singles in Chengdu. At present, most social housing starts from families. We hope that the government can improve its policies in the future. And acknowledge that they are all members of society. "
"Hong Kong 01" inquired the LCSD about the incident. The spokesman said that the department has been paying close attention to the daily management and use of facilities in Tongzhou Street Park and has taken a series of measures to strengthen the cleanliness and management of the park. To prevent and combat drug abuse in the park, the Department arranges staff and security officers to step up patrols and conduct joint operations with the police from time to time. On December 21 and 22, 2019, the Japan Agency and the police went to Tongzhou Street Park for joint operations. Police are responsible for combating drug abuse and other crimes, while staff of the department are responsible for cleaning the venue facilities and handling unclaimed debris. The action was not directed at street sleepers. During the operation, the department's staff cleared garbage and cleaned the ground in the park. If there is any unclaimed debris during the cleaning, it will be temporarily stored in the park for 3 days without being discarded immediately. The Department stated that it would continue to closely monitor the cleanliness of the venue, and had contacted relevant government departments to provide appropriate support to street sleepers, and would maintain communication with relevant groups assisting street sleepers.
The day of the interview was on December 23, and riot police officers came to Tongzhou Street Park again, but said that they were only patrolling, not clearing the field. (Photo by Li Yinglin)
The Police Public Relations Division responded to enquiries by stating that the Sham Shui Po Police District has always paid close attention to drug activities in the area and grasped the black spots in the area. Through active intelligence collection, citizen reporting, patrols and strategic enforcement actions, Combating drug-related activities. Regarding the drug activities in the area, the Sham Shui Po Police District carried out an anti-crime operation coded "Sunny Day" in the vicinity of Tongzhou Street Park and Medical Bureau Street from December 21 to 22, and dispatched officers to remove related black spots. The spokesman said that during the operation, officers arrested a total of six men, aged between 42 and 64, who were suspected of trafficking or possession of drugs, and seized evidence of suspected drugs.
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