Choi Hung Estate: Memories We Will Keep
It's a place that people have called home for decades, but reports that Choi Hung Estate will be redeveloped have stirred strong emotions among residents there. While some welcome the prospect of moving to a new home in a new environment, others say they're going to miss their old stomping ground, especially those friendly and familiar faces. “One morning, I was startled by a loud sound while still half-asleep. It turned out that a piece of concrete fell from the ceiling... Fortunately, it missed me and I survived,” Chan said. “There are cracks all over my house, and repairs have been done repeatedly. The toilet has also leaked many times, even after multiple attempts to fix it.” 

 Chan, 74, was among the first batch of residents to move into the Choi Hung Estate in 1962. He has lived here since. Chan said his flat has gone through repairs five times in the past few years, but the problems haven't gone away. “I find the whole process very troublesome… Each time it takes a whole day. Dust is everywhere, and they have to smash the walls completely... However, after a while, the patched areas start to crack again." Despite the problems with his flat, Chan said he doesn't want to move out unless he's forced to. “We are accustomed to it. Even though the units here may be smaller and older, we have everything we need. We are used to our way of life, including clothing, food and transport. If you abruptly switch elderly residents to a new environment and neighbourhood, it is not really good for them,” Chan, who lives alone, said.

 Built in the 1960s, the 11-block Choi Hung Estate is home to about 17,500 residents, with an estimated 10 percent of them living alone. Another resident, Lam, 68, who’s been living here for almost 40 years, said he's looking forward to a new home. “It would be best to arrange the redevelopment as soon as possible so that we can move away,” he said.

 Lam’s unit has concrete peeling on the ceilings in both the kitchen and the bathroom. Also, there are broken tiles in the bathroom. He said he and his wife are both worried. “It's like seeing the skin and bones... I hope to live at ease. That's all.” Lam said moving away doesn't bother him.

 “Neighbourhood relationships come and go. You can always meet new people. You can't expect to spend your whole life here. “Of course, some people don't want to leave. They can decide later when they see that there aren't many people left. They will then leave on their own because everyone else has left,” he said. Choi Hung Estate is also home to many shops. "This store has been here since 1962. I have been running it for 30 years since taking over [from my cousin] in 1992," shopkeeper Lau said. Lau does not live in Choi Hung Estate, but his bond with the community is as strong as any resident here.  His convenience store is a place where people gather and meet. Some have a beer or two and have a chat with their friends before they head home. “Once, on Chinese New Year's Eve, a neighbour was chatting and completely forgot that his wife had asked him to buy a chicken for worship. He didn't go home until late at night, and his wife scolded him... Well, his wife still let him come to the store later,”  Lau said.   On this day, Lung is hanging out at the store, holding a can of beer. "I'm just killing time. My wife worked all night and wanted to sleep. I don't want to turn on the TV and disturb her. And my granddaughter is at school," he said. Lung says he's going to miss the neighbourhood. "We are familiar with one another. Now all of a sudden, we are told to 'break up'. "We'll have to get to know new people, and we may not get along. Nowadays, everyone just minds their own business. Neighbours don't even know one another's names... It will be so boring. "Also, I'll have to move my furniture to another place, which will cost money. How much money will the government give us for relocation?” Lau’s store is also a favourite among nearby students.  Once there were five schools in the vicinity, but now only three remain. "I remember a little child who has now become a father of two children. He came back and asked me, 'Boss, do you still recognise me? I used to study at the school across the street more than 10 years ago.' "When I looked at his face, I think he really resembled his younger self. Now he has grown into an adult. Time really flies," Lau said. Now his shop has a new generation of regulars. 

 One youngster, surnamed Tse, said he has been attending school in Choi Hung Estate for more than a decade, from Primary One to Form Five. “The store is where many of my classmates grew up. Sometimes I saw people I knew from primary school grabbing food here. They may be fond of nostalgia and cheaper prices here, as well as the shop’s long history," Tse said.  Another student, who's known as Vigar, is also a regular at the store. "I play arcade games with my friends. I usually spend HK$3 maximum per visit. Once, I won two sheets of stickers and gave them to my teacher as a gift," he said. Lau, the shopkeeper, said it may be time to call it a day as the estate faces redevelopment. "My children have grown up, and I don't have many responsibilities now. So at the age of 70, I want more free time while my health is still good. "But as long as the redevelopment hasn't been finalised, I will continue to run the store. “In the future, when the estate is demolished, everyone will go their separate ways… If it’s gone then it’s gone.”