A pressing problem

The Changsha Street Children Protection Center has taken in 800 street children and appealed to the local government for a larger place to cater for the increased numbers.

Director Xiao Zhengcai says most of the children are sent back to their homes or to foster homes. But some have to go to orphanages. "It is impossible for the center to keep many children for a long time," Xiao says.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs said there were 150,000 street children in China in a report in 2000.