The Return of Neighbors
Though many old neighborhoods are threatened with looming redevelopment, residents are still doing everything they can to foster a sense of community spirit, writes Winnie Chau.
There was a time when the word “neighborhood” meant something. In the past, Hong Kong residents relied on their neighbors through thick and thin. People from all walks of life occupied densely populated areas, and neighbors became life-long friends. They helped each other out through difficulties—whether it was lending a quart of soy sauce for dinner or helping them make their rent payments. In the days before Facebook, neighborhoods were the only social network. Children grew up, got married, gave birth and raised their grandkids in the same city block. Stephen Chow’s movie “Kung Fu Hustle” harkened back to this bygone era, exploring the unshakeable bonds between neighbors.
Sadly, those networks have eroded in recent years as old neighborhoods were torn down, new towns sprung up and people moved on.
These days we barely acknowldge the people living around us. We may live cheek by jowl with hundreds of other families, but the only thing we share with our neighbors is an elevator. We barely exchange a nod and smile as we pass in the hall. Do you even know your neighbors’ names, let alone share life’s trials and tribulations with them? The word “neighborhood” has become no more than a signifier of a geographical location.
However, some people are fighting back. They believe that in our increasingly isolated society, neighborhood networks should be revived to cultivate a sense of belonging and provide a helping hand for those in need. We talked to people in four neighborhoods across Hong Kong who are taking the first step and making a difference.
Co-op in Sham Shui Po
Of the 300,000 people living in Sham Shui Po, 30 percent live below the poverty line. With little support from the government, the Industrial Relations Institute (a non-profit labor organization) decided to open a secondhand shop to create a support network in the neighborhood. The Community Recycling Co-op welcomes donations from all over Hong Kong, especially clothing, electrical appliances and furniture. Donated items are sold at around 20-30 percent of their market price ($120 for a wedding gown, anyone?) and volunteers will even come and pick up the bulky items you want to donate. In return, donors get coupons to purchase goods at the Co-op. Since its opening, the Co-op has expanded from a 100-square foot space to a 3,000 square feet store on Lai Chi Kok Road.