Woman dies in a Hong Kong McDonald's, and no one notices for seven hours
Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A homeless woman died overnight last Saturday at a McDonald's. For seven hours, no one noticed anything as customers came and went around her.
The woman, aged around 50 to 60 years, was found slumped over her table in a quiet corner, 24 hours after she entered the restaurant at Ping Shek Estate, in Kowloon Bay.
She was 1.6 metres tall, with short black hair. Although she had a bag and a wallet on her, she had no identification documents.
At around 8:30 am Saturday, a McDonald’s employee called police after finding the woman unconscious and cold at her table. She was confirmed dead at the scene.
According to police, there was nothing suspicious about her death upon initial investigation.
CCTV footage showed the woman entering the restaurant at 8:39 am the previous day – 24 hours before she was found dead – and sitting at a table near the bathroom.
At 1:20 am on Saturday, she suddenly slumped over the table. Nobody paid her any attention and customers ate their late-night meals around her.
Her body was taken away to a mortuary through the back door at around 11:30 am, and by 1 pm, all tables were open to customers.
The case highlights growing concerns over the plight of the homeless population in the affluent financial hub. Local NGOs estimate the number at more than a thousand.
In Hong Kong’s sweltering temperatures and high humidity, some find shelter in air-conditioned restaurants that are open 24 hours.
Homelessness is a major problem in the city whose housing prices are among the highest in the world.
The city's Social Welfare Department said it was "highly concerned" about the incident.
"We endeavour to support street sleepers to enhance their self-reliance . . . the subject is a complex social problem," said a Department spokesman.
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14/02/2006
19/04/2007
