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I recently visited Wah Fu (I) and (II) Estate (Wah Fu Estate) in the Southern District, Hong Kong Island and Sau Mau Ping Estate in Kwun Tong, Kowloon. Wah Fu Estate, featuring the Old Slab and Twin Tower block design style, provides more than 9 000 public rental housing (PRH) units. Sau Mau Ping Estate, the second largest PRH estate in Hong Kong, provides more than 12 000 units. It comprises mainly Harmony Blocks, together with Twin Towers and non-standard blocks design, of which Housing for Senior Citizens (HSC) is also provided. Each of the two estates has its own distinctive characteristics with provision of comprehensive ancillary facilities. In addition to shopping centres, wet markets and car parks, the estates are equipped with a range of recreational, community and welfare facilities, providing a comfortable and convenient living environment for residents.
When stepping into Wah Fu Estate, I felt like riding on a time machine back to five decades ago. I marveled at the design of the buildings and the space arrangement then. Considering the geographical advantages of the site, the architects devoted their earnest efforts for optimum building layouts with a view to providing ample and pleasant public spaces as well as housing units with broad views. Despite the fact that Wah Fu Estate is over half-century old, its estate facilities have been keeping abreast with the times through various maintenance schemes and estate improvement projects, such as the addition of barrier-free facilities and elevators for enhancing accessibility. With the careful maintenance rendered by the Estate Management Division, the estate is well-kept and full of vibrancy.
Sau Mau Ping Estate, which is younger than Wah Fu Estate, embodies public housing designs from different decades. The architects adopted a site-specific approach and optimised the development potential of the site to provide a comfortable living environment for residents. I noticed that the design of the estate is thoughtful and user-friendly. For instance, major facilities are connected to the lobbies of the domestic blocks by covered pedestrian walkways, which shelter residents from the sun and rain when they travel to and from the facilities. Besides, the preserved old trees provide shade and serve as a place for residents to rest. The design of the HSC is also detail-oriented, as manifested in the locations of light switches, the designs of kitchens and bathrooms, handrails in the corridors, etc, which facilitate the daily living of the elderly. I chatted with some elderly residents in the HSC and they showed great satisfaction with their living environment.
The design and maintenance of our estates have all along been keeping up with the times. My gratitude goes to colleagues of the Development and Construction Division and the Estate Management Division for their conscientiousness over the years in providing quality public housing with “no-frills” design. I hope all of us will continue to strive to provide quality homes for the people of Hong Kong.
Agnes Wong
Director of Housing
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