Our Blue House
How residents and preservation activists are picturing—and realizing— the revitalization of a 1920s tenement in Wan Chai.
Hong Kong used to be described as a city without history. Old buildings are ruthlessly demolished, indigenous populations are heartlessly uprooted—and then sleek skyscrapers filled with wealthy residents rise up in their place. Because of this common tale, Hong Kong witnessed a wave of activism focused on heritage preservation. But after the pain of losing historic Queen’s Pier in front of City Hall and the former Star Ferry pier to land reclamation, plus the old-style stationery stores lining Wan Chai’s Lee Tung Street to the government’s bulldozer, the fruits of preservation are again beginning to ripen.
In Wan Chai, a group of tenements with colorful facades known as the Blue House cluster (which includes not only the eponymous tong lau but also its yellow and orange neighbors), is destined for a new kind of historic revitalization—one in which the physical structure is not the only thing worth saving. Beyond restoring the building itself, the proposal the government selected also includes a plan to repopulate it with residents and to support local businesses such as an old-fashioned medical clinic and a dessert shop. More than just a static, exterior facelift, the goal of the Blue House revamp is to consciously build and nurture a traditional community. It is the first time that the government has adopted such an approach, and it marks a milestone in the evolution of Hong Kong’s preservation culture. In so many ways, it symbolizes a departure from the past, a different way thinking about—and caring about—old Hong Kong.
Four years of struggling, preparation and negotiation came to an end in September, when the Development Bureau (a municipal body) picked nonprofit St. James’ Settlement to become the operator of the government-owned property. St. James collaborated with grassroots organizations such as Community Culture Concern, Heritage Hong Kong and the Blue House Residence Rights’ Group. Though St. James had few competitors during the bidding process, its plan stood out because it incorporated the views and agendas of current and former Blue House residents, kaifongs (other neighbors), preservation activists and social workers, whom they consulted on a weekly basis.
“This is the biggest difference from other preservation projects,” said Ng Sze-on, who heads the community development services division of St. James’ Settlement. “People doing preservation projects seldom consider the human factor, and ‘people-oriented’ has become a slogan only. They move residents from their communities, do not think about their social networks and convenience, and assume that they are being well-handled.”
St. James’ elaborate plan for the Blue House cluster takes residents’ well-being as its top priority. Eight families have chosen to stay in the cluster, and by 2013, 12 new apartments with market-value rent will be available. On the renovation front, the first order of business is to improve the residents’ conditions. As the tenement was built in the 1920s, there are no lavatories in most flats. Currently, if residents need to go to the bathroom or take a shower, they have to walk down flights of stairs and use a public toilet. Besides in-flat bathrooms, St. James will build an exterior elevator for the safety and convenience of older residents.
Not just anyone with enough cash can live in the Blue House—new tenants will be expected to volunteer for the community, perhaps by guiding tours or doing publicity. “We want to recruit three types of tenants, including traditional craftsmen, professionals and people who have experience running social enterprises. We hope that new tenants will be able to participate in the whole project,” Ng said.
Even though it is no longer the norm for six or seven family members to cram into one partitioned flat, the kind of intimate community spirit those necessities fostered in the 50s and 60s can still exist with the right kind of encouragement. “In the past, there might have been 72 tenants in a flat and 500 people living in one single building, but that is impossible now,” Ng said. “When we improve living conditions, we can keep the spirit of tong laus through other programs. Neighbors can have a close relationship and help each other out. This is the core value that is worth passing along the generations.”