‘Hotbeds of disease’: call for government aid for Hongkongers in subdivided flats, as fears over coronavirus in sewage systems mount

While city frets over masks and drainage, the needy live in cramped conditions with inadequate plumbing

Some cannot afford the jacked up prices of protective gear and disinfectants, and have resorted to reusing masks

Reading Time:3 minutes

An elderly low-income resident uses newspaper to store his used mask, hoping it can absorb some of the moisture before reuse. Photo: Kwai Chung Subdivided Flats Residents’ Alliance

Published: 6:01pm, 11 Feb 2020Updated: 6:27pm, 11 Feb 2020

Needy residents living in Hong Kong’s subdivided flats who cannot afford masks or disinfectants have expressed fears that their cramped quarters and bad drainage systems are exposing them to the coronavirus.

In a survey of 107 people in subdivided homes conducted by the Kwai Chung Subdivided Flats Residents’ Alliance, respondents rated government measures against the outbreak an average of 2.4 out of 10, with a third giving a score of 0.

“I know I need to do my part to prevent the spread of the virus, but the government is not providing me with the means to do so,” said a 75-year-old resident, who only gave her surname as Pang.

“I would give the government negative marks if I could.”

Residents of subdivided flats and members of the Kwai Chung Subdivided Flats Residents’ Alliance call for government action. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Many residents have started steaming, sunning, ironing and washing surgical masks to “disinfect” them for reuse, the alliance said. One elderly resident had been storing used masks in envelopes, or wrapping them up in newspapers in the hope this would absorb moisture from the masks so they could be worn again.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x