Prostitutes have made this woman's life hell - but she doesn't dare complain to police

Prostitutes reign in the Lai Shing Building in Yau Ma Tei. You might not like it, but you'd better keep quiet.

Neena Pushkarna, a 60-year-old Indian who has lived in the building in Man Ming Lane for more than 10 years, is in the middle of saying how depressed she is with the 'invasion' of sex workers when two brightly dressed young mainland women enter the lift.

'They can guess I am complaining to you about them,' says Ms Pushkarna, lowering her voice.

In the lift, the bigger of the two women stares so fiercely at Ms Pushkarna, it seems she might attack her.

'The police tell me not to take the risk [of complaining about the prostitutes] because I am often alone at home. I am so scared,' she says.

About a dozen residents have gathered in a flat to discuss how to solve the problem of the growing number of prostitutes, who are believed to occupy 20 of the building's 100-odd flats.

An old man opens the door and hurries us inside. 'Come, come, I don't want those prostitutes next door to find out you are all meeting in my place. They probably work for triad groups,' he says, quickly slamming the door.