By Chloe So
Built in 1960, the Uk Estate in Sham Shui Po is one the oldest public housing estate in Hong Kong. It was the third project under the government's public housing scheme, which started after the disastrous fire at Shek Kip Mei squatter area in 1953. It has provided homes for 15200 people, about 5300 families.
The sixteen blocks, which were completed in four phrases and built along the hill in Cheung Sha Wan, were called "houses" and named after a variety of flowers and trees. Unlike other public housing estates built later, the design of the blocks is unique. The older ones are linear with an open corridor, while the newer ones are with doors facing each other.
Most residents living there are the elderly because the young ones have moved out to live in other new districts. When the elderly have built a strong and close social bond over time, the blocks are getting older and decayed.
Since the government announced last year that the estate would be cleared in two phrases by the end of next year and 2011, the residents have gradually moved to other districts or Un Chau Estate. But it is not difficult to find that some come back to the estate once or twice in a week to find their old friends.
Behind the new main entrance, it is the social bond, the old shops and little teahouse on the ground floor or maybe the slopes and stairs they walk every day make them miss the place.
The sixteen blocks, which were completed in four phrases and built along the hill in Cheung Sha Wan, were called "houses" and named after a variety of flowers and trees. Unlike other public housing estates built later, the design of the blocks is unique. The older ones are linear with an open corridor, while the newer ones are with doors facing each other.
Most residents living there are the elderly because the young ones have moved out to live in other new districts. When the elderly have built a strong and close social bond over time, the blocks are getting older and decayed.
Since the government announced last year that the estate would be cleared in two phrases by the end of next year and 2011, the residents have gradually moved to other districts or Un Chau Estate. But it is not difficult to find that some come back to the estate once or twice in a week to find their old friends.
Behind the new main entrance, it is the social bond, the old shops and little teahouse on the ground floor or maybe the slopes and stairs they walk every day make them miss the place.
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