Government admits to putting asylum seekers in homes not fit to live in
Welfare department says asylum seekers are housed in non-residential accommodation. But police drop investigation into slum scandal
The Social Welfare Department has admitted its contractor in charge of asylum seekers' welfare is housing clients in homes not fit to live in. However, police have dropped their investigation into how some asylum seekers came to be living in squalor due to a lack of evidence.
A spokeswoman for the department said the contractor, the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK), had asked more than 110 asylum seekers to move out of accommodation not fit for residential use. The result is a stand-off as clients are refusing to move.
"The ISS-HK has contacted more than 110 asylum seekers and refugees who are living in areas not meant for residential purposes and has been discussing alternative accommodation with them," the spokeswoman said.
"But they all prefer to stay in their current abodes, which they secured themselves. ISS-HK will continue to encourage them to move out and will mobilise the necessary resources to help them."
It is believed the asylum seekers are reluctant to move because their homes - which would have been subject to ISS-HK approval - are relatively cheap.
Even so, they often cost more than the ISS-HK housing allowance, and many of the asylum seekers have found jobs locally, albeit illegally, to help pay the extra cost.
