Ngau Tau Kok

Snapshots of the Everyday Life in Hong Kong’s Public Rental Housing

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The daily media coverage on the H1N1 flu pandemic has brought back memories of the SARS outbreak back in 2003. The private housing estate, Amoy Gardens which was originally built on the site of Amoy Food-a manufacturer of soy sauce, in Ngau Tau Kok was infamous since one of the first people to come into contact with SARS lived there and quickly spread the disease to other residents. Also well known in Ngau Tau Kok is the public housing estate of Lower Ngau Tau Kok which opened in 1967. The majority of residents are seniors and the area has been the oldest public housing estate in Hong Kong since Shek Kip Mei’s public housing was burned down in 1953. The seven apartment blocks that house over 5000 units will be demolished by the Housing Authority this year. About 3000 households and 160 commercial tenants still remain while some tenants have been moved out. Interestingly, the authority will be keeping some of the appliances and furniture in the units for historic purposes and there was a proposal that the items can later be used for public displays.

Earlier this month, there was an auction with about 50 items collected from the local residents and shop owners. Items included cabinets from bakeries, hair dryers from barber shops, old TV sets, revolving signs from beauty salons, etc. Proceeds from the auction will be used to publish about the history of the estate and to assist seniors to move out prior to the demolition. Visitors have been frequenting the area to capture the last of the residents’ local culture that will soon be gone. More details on the auction and artists' exhibits can be found here.