VOLUNTEERS SPRUCING UP CHINATOWN

About 100 volunteers will pick up dirty syringes and other garbage next
weekend in the alleys and streets of Chinatown as part of an annual
campaign to keep the historic community attractive to tourists.

Campaign chair Joey Wong said the clean-up is particularly important at
this time of year, as more tourists pour into the city and local residents
get out to enjoy the warm weather.

"In the last 10 years, business in Chinatown has gradually gone down and
anything we can do to make it a cleaner and safer place, we'll do," said
Wong, who runs the Dollar Meat Store at 266 East Pender.

The clean-up begins at 9 a.m. May 24 and will be spearheaded mainly by
volunteers from Chinatown organizations such as the business improvement
association, the merchants' association and the Buddhist Compassion Relief
Tzu Chi Foundation.

Last year, volunteers filled two large dumpsters with garbage, often left
in the alleys and streets by addicts, dumpster divers and merchants who
don't have enough dumpsters to handle their refuse.

The City of Vancouver has supplied volunteers with gloves, tongs and
syringe disposal boxes, but Wong noted the city has arranged to have
another agency scour Chinatown for needles the night before the clean-up.

City water trucks are also expected to flush an 11-block area the same
night, but Wong said drug addicts' frequent, all-night use of the alleys
means volunteers will undoubtedly end up picking up syringes.

"That's just the way it is down here."

Wong isn't anticipating confrontations with drug dealers or addicts, and
believes the increased police presence in the area will make for a safe and
productive day for the volunteers.

Last month, the Vancouver police department tripled the number of cops in
the Downtown Eastside to 60 in an attempt to rid the streets of drug
dealers. Last week, Chief Constable Jamie Graham heard from
Chinese-Canadian leaders that the blitz has pushed some of the addicts and
dealers into Chinatown.

Being located next to the most visible open drug market in Canada has its
own business challenges, Wong said, but merchants are also competing with
burgeoning Chinatowns in Richmond and Burnaby. The recent SARS outbreak in
Toronto and Vancouver has also had a negative effect on business but Wong
is confidant people will slowly return to Chinatown.

The addition of heritage-style lamps on the streets and completion of the
Millennium Gate are signs revitalization of the community is underway.

Anyone wanting to volunteer for the clean-up should contact the Vancouver
Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society at 604-632-3808.