HONG KONG

Before the existence of public housing, much of Hong Kong, especially the Shek Kip Mei area, was a growing squatter village that housed thousands of immigrants from China who were escaping the war and conflict in Mainland China. Since there was such a high density of people in the area, a fire that happened in December, 1953 easily claimed 40 lives and engulfed the squatter area, leaving thousands of the inhabitants homeless. This pushed for the construction of the eight blocks of public housing for these people in place of the squatter area. The eight blocks were originally built for temporary accommodation, hence the materials used for the estate were very poor, with minimal facilities.

 

Today, Mei Ho Lau is now revamped into a Youth Hostel after renovation and reconstruction works,   still incorporating much of its original elements such as the iron window frames, but its the building’s H-shaped structure that sets it apart from the rest of the old public housing, as it is the only remaining building of its kind. As you walk across the atrium and look up towards each floor, it is hard to believe that at least 300 people living on each floor, with 10 people squished in a 120m2 space, sharing 6 bathrooms and 1 kitchen. The interior balconies facing either side of the atrium now has comfortable chairs and tables for socialising and relaxing.