Jackie Pullinger
Jackie Pullinger-To is a British woman who lives and works among the poor, the homeless and the drug addicts of Hong Kong.
Over thirty years ago she went to Hong Kong on a one way ticket, and arrived knowing no one with just $100 HK in her pocket. She lived and worked in Kowloon’s notorious ‘Walled City’ and by 1981 she had set up the St Stephen’s Society, which provides rehabilitation homes for recovering drug addicts, prostitutes, and gang members. By December 2007 it had grown to provide homes for 200 people.
The charity’s work has been recognized by the Hong Kong government who donated the land for the rehabilitation homes.
Jackie’s story is told in her renowned book Chasing the Dragon and she still lives in Hong Kong and runs the St Stephen’s Society.