5 Hong Kong housing estates to be refurbished according to new well-being design guide
Housing chief Winnie Ho says government will make large-scale improvements to five rental housing estates with ‘heart-warming’ design features
Five Hong Kong public rental housing estates will undergo large-scale refurbishments to enhance the well-being of tenants, with features such as easily accessible chairs and handrails in common areas to be installed according to a new design guide launched by authorities.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Monday the government would carry out the work on the estates by 2027 to incorporate “heart-warming” features and improve residents’ well-being.
The five estates covered by the pilot scheme are Kai Yip Estate in Kwun Tong, Fu Shan Estate in Wong Tai Sin, Chak On Estate in Sham Shui Po, Shui Pin Wai Estate in Yuen Long and Mei Lam Estate in Sha Tin.
The housing minister said she hoped the over 170 features listed in the new guide would encourage elderly residents to stay engaged in the community and help alleviate their loneliness.
“Elderly residents, especially those living on their own, like going downstairs to meet others … But as they get older, they lack confidence to leave their homes because they get worried about falling,” Ho said, stressing that having a social life was “important” to the elderly.
“Installing handrails in the corridor, leaning benches in lifts and hanging hooks next to postboxes will encourage them to go downstairs to make new friends, do tai chi or have tea.”