At a Wednesday press conference, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sir
Roger Moore had harsh words for about 40 local hotels and schools.
The inns and dormitories refused to accommodate 72 orphans
attending the country's first summer camp for children who have
lost their parents to AIDS. The camp opened in Beijing on
Tuesday.
Moore said that the operators of schools, guesthouses and hotels
that rejected the children should hang their heads in shame for
their irrational belief that these children could infect other
guests and kids.
He went on to express appreciation to the Badachu Xicui Hotel in
suburban Beijing, which did provide the children with lodgings.
He also encouraged the media to send the message to the public
that there should be no stigma or discrimination resulting from the
children's misfortune, and that AIDS orphans should not lose their
friends and jobs.
The summer camp, jointly organized by the China Youth Concern
Committee, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
and UNICEF, opened on August 10 in Beijing.
"Although they are healthy, they were still refused by nearly 40
hotels and school dormitories in the past two months," said Li
Qimin, an official with the summer camp organizing committee. He
added that hotel owners feared that guests would move out after
hearing that AIDS orphans were staying in the same hotel, while
school administrators said students were not willing to leave their
dormitories for the children.
Finally, the Badachu Xicui Hotel in suburban Beijing agreed to
take in all 72 AIDS orphans and arrange the best rooms for
them.
According to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, China will have between 138,000 and 260,000 AIDS
orphans by the end of 2010.
In spite of these grim statistics, Moore -- a British actor
perhaps best known for playing the role of secret agent James Bond
-- remains optimistic.
"This battle will be won," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2004)