The grim reality of aging Hong Kong buildings

Stories: Living in Hong Kong | Asian Correspondent

As a newcomer to Hong Kong nine years ago, it was hard to imagine to be living more than a dozen floors above the street. It was really different from the single-unit dwellings I was used to. In Hong Kong you got neighbors next door, and like in the office everyone had to queue for a lift ride upstairs. But time moves on and I had got used to this arrangement.

That was until I realized I may be living in an old building, so old that it might be comparable to the structure – believed to be more than 50 years old – that collapsed in Kowloon, killing four people. It’s remarkable how Hong Kong has found a way to erect high-rise buildings to accommodate residents in this densely populated city. Without using much space, it was possible to house millions.

But apart from this benefit for the space-conscious people of Hong Kong, there are also several drawbacks that are truly unique to this type of housing. These include falling debris from irresponsible people living upstairs, dripping air conditioning units and disturbance caused by households living upstairs (children bouncing balls at night time, noisy party revelers, etc.).

Due to lack of available home space, some residents have resorted to illegally constructed partitions - extensions that were not part of the plan when the building was constructed. This is what happened to that seven storey building – not that high when you consider the typical height of home dwellings in the city – that collapsed. If you live in posh apartments in modern villages, you probably won’t notice this. But for older buildings within the older neighborhoods, the building of these illegal structures may be prevalent. The growing rich-poor gap may have contributed to this unfortunate incidents as poor people simply can't afford to buy or rent properties with skyrocketing property prices.

Hong Kong has an efficient government that ensures building residents' safety. There are regular checks on fire safety equipment and elevators but apparently these are not enough, especially when you’re inspecting properties in a building that is due for a massive facelift. During the economic meltdown, the government has diverted billions of dollars towards the construction industry by offering jobs to repair contractors who will fix building problems. At the wake of the deadly building collapses, there are fears that contractors will avoid major maintenance works that are deemed too risky.

The unfortunate incident cost four lives, but it may also be a good eye-opener for the government on the current state of many housing structures in the city. Are we allowing too many people to live within a very limited area? Shall we consider expanding or building new communities in New Territories to ease up population density in Hong Kong island and Kowloon? The Urban Renewal Authority has been proactive in making changes within the landscape that could ultimately alter the image – and cultural heritage – of the city. Can it focus more on aging buildings instead of the city’s cultural treasures when building new residential towers?