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Cold Spell Forces Hong Kong's Homeless Outdoors Amid Shelter Fear

1/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A cold spell in Hong Kong drives many homeless residents outdoors, as they describe shelters as feeling like imprisonment.
At Tung Chau Street Park, Sham Shui Po, about 70 street sleepers were seen in clusters using tents and foldable beds.
Henry Lai, a 62-year-old street sleeper, was among them.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned that urban temperatures could fall to 11°C, marking the coldest period of the year.

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Story summary

A cold spell in Hong Kong drives many homeless residents outdoors, as they describe shelters as feeling like imprisonment.
At Tung Chau Street Park, Sham Shui Po, about 70 street sleepers were seen in clusters using tents and foldable beds.
Henry Lai, a 62-year-old street sleeper, was among them.
The Hong Kong Observatory warned that urban temperatures could fall to 11°C, marking the coldest period of the year.