Shenzhen Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau has submitted a report to the city government seeking approval to set up a shelter for homeless children in Shenzhen.

An official of the bureau surnamed Ma said the shelter idea was first initiated by bureau workers at a meeting with Li Xueju, China's minister for civil affairs, who was on an inspection tour of Shenzhen in early April.

Ma said that there were a great number of homeless children throughout the city, many of whom were begging under the control of adults.

She said that because the children were incapable of helping themselves, the city government should take responsibility to protect them.

This was why the bureau had applied to set up a protection and education center for homeless children. The center would provide the children with a home, food and education.

So far, 128 shelters for homeless children have been built throughout the country at a cost of 120 million yuan (US$14.5 million) financed by the Central Government and various local governments.

(Shenzhen Daily May 25, 2004)