The only clue they offer is a survey on beggars in Taipei City that Shih's department in the Governor General's Office carried out while he was working there. He was ordered to carry out the survey in Wanhua. This must have stirred his natural compassion, prompting him to work helping beggars.
有限的資料總寫道，施乾系因在總督府任職時，工商課舉辦全台北市乞丐總調查，他奉命調查萬華區，因生惻隱之心，而投入乞丐救濟事業。