Hong Kong Housing Authority and Housing Department

Interesting Fun Facts about Public Housing

The Housing Authority Training and Development Centre recently organised a "Fun Facts" activity, inviting colleagues to submit and vote for interesting stories about public housing. We share below a few more popular ones among the 200 submissions.

Photo: Estate management staff had to go door to door to collect rent in the 1970s and 80s.

Rent Collection Day

In the 1970s and 80s, staff from estate management offices had to go to individual flats to collect rent at the beginning of each month. During hot summer days, the rent collectors going up and down the buildings would soon be bathed in sweat. Some tenants showed great consideration, switching on their fans to help them cool down. Of all these unforgettable memories, perhaps the funniest was the way some tenants would see this as a good opportunity to select a son-in-law. They thought that because the rent collectors were well-educated and had a stable job, they would be perfect choices as husbands for their daughters. So it was not uncommon for tenants to ask about their marriage status when they came to the door.

Photo: The sound of glass beads was caused by sudden change in water pressure.

The Sound of Glass Beads at Midnight
Tenants living in older public housing buildings sometimes complained that they could hear glass beads bouncing on the floor at midnight. The sound was so annoying that they had difficulty sleeping. Some suspected that their neighbours were playing with glass beads at midnight, but investigations found this was not the case. Rumours then went round that construction workers had deliberately put glass beads inside the floor slabs to make fun of the residents. In fact, the weird sound was caused by the change in water pressure when tenants turned taps on and off abruptly. With the old design, the water pipes would vibrate if the water pressure changed suddenly, and the vibrations were transmitted to the walls or floors of the building, making a sound like glass beads bouncing on the floor.

Photo: The clock tower has become a landmark of Kin Ming Estate.

Clock Tower as a Landmark
On Kin Ming Estate at Tsueng Kwan O there stands a clock tower named Kin Choi House, located between Ming Chau House and Ming Sing House. This clock tower has four surfaces which each show the time, wind direction, humidity and sunshine. As tall as an eight-storey building, the clock tower can be seen from a considerable distance and has become a local landmark.

Public Art in Public Housing
Tung Chung Artwalk, on Yat Tung Estate, is the first public art garden set among public estate buildings. The artworks reflect the history of Tung Chung and the social changes that have taken place there, as well as capturing the characteristics of local culture and traditions. Art pieces on display there include "Man in Nature", "Wild Geese Flying towards the Southeast" and "A Village of Fish and Rice", all being the work of renowned local artists. Nowadays, art is to no longer only to be found in galleries or museums; Tung Chung Artwalk gives tenants the opportunity to appreciate art right in their local neighbourhood.

Photo: Tung Chung Artwalk presents art works among public estate buildings.

Photo: This dragon lying by the stream livens up the garden in Lung Tak Court. 2011 ©

Dance with the Dragon
Take a look — is that a magnificent dragon drinking water by a brook at Lung Tak Court in Stanley? Maybe at a first glance, but actually it is just a vivid and lifelike stone dragon that has been ingeniously incorporated into the surrounding natural environment. Together with the nearby brook and pool, the dragon brings a beautiful and legendary ambience to the garden.