A homeless woman laid dead in a McDonald's restaurant for 24 hours before anyone notice something was wrong.

The woman, believed to be in her late 50s, passed away surrounded by diners and staff who failed to check on her after she suddenly slumped over a table.

The South China Morning Post reports that she had ordered glass of water when she first arrived at 1:20am on Saturday, and that staff “had noticed she was moving when she first came into the diner”.

Wendy Lam, senior director of corporate affairs for McDonald’s Hong Kong, said: “In order to provide a pleasant dining environment, we would not disturb our customers, but our service will be offered promptly upon request.”

Local media said the woman was slumped at a table for more than 24 hours after she first entered the restaurant in the working class district of Ping Shek.

The incident happen in one of Hong Kong’s busiest McDonald’s and has sparked concerns over the city's growing homeless problem, due in part, to its exorbitant rents.

Dubbed "McRefugees", these people tend to seek shelter inside a number of the city’s 24-hour restaurants.

"Officers arrived upon a report from a female customer (that a person was found to have fainted)," police said in a statement.

"The subject was certified dead at the scene."

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