Returning to where he grew up, Dr Luk felt a profound connection as scenes from the past replayed in his mind.
For half a century, public housing estates have nurtured talents across a variety of professions. Among them is Dr Luk Che Chung, who dedicated over three decades to the medical field and served as the former Cluster Chief Executive of Hospital Authority Hong Kong East Cluster before retiring. His remarkable journey in life began at Kwun Tong Garden Estate. Raised in Kwun Tong Garden Estate during the 1980s, Dr Luk shared a 200-square-foot unit with no partitions together with his parents and three siblings. Despite the constant distractions of television and mahjong noises, he remained dedicated to his studies. Through sheer determination and hard work, he excelled in the public examination and was accepted into the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, making him one of the first graduates in medicine from the university.
Dr Luk and his parents originally lived in a cubicle apartment in San Po Kong, where his father worked as a foreman at the Seiko Watch factory. In 1966, when Dr Luk was still a kindergarten student, the family relocated to Kwun Tong Garden Estate, where many worker families applied. Their new residence came with a private kitchen and toilet, spacious communal areas, even a basketball court downstairs. It was indeed a significant improvement in living conditions for them. Memories of the basketball court hold a special place in Dr Luk’s heart, representing both the joy of playing with other boys and the mischievous attempts to outwit his mother to no avail. He recalled: “When I was a kid, my mother did everything she could to ensure our safety and keep us away from bad influences, so we rarely played outside, even on the basketball court. Once, some friends asked me to play basketball with them, so I ‘bribed’ my little sister with snacks on condition that she wouldn’t tell on me. I was betrayed the moment I turned my back!”
When they couldn’t go to the basketball court, the kids would turn the corridors into their playground. There, they would stroll, jump, kick rubber balls, and some neighbourhood kids even rode bicycles. “The adults would set up mahjong tables in the corridors; it’s cooler there. People would also hang laundry in the courtyard to catch the afternoon sun.” Children would crouch in the corridors to sneak a peek at their neighbours’ TV screens through the metal gates. Dr Luk recalls that, even though each household would close the gates at the time, the wooden doors inside would remain wide open, with just a piece of cloth hanging in the center of the metal gate. “Once, when we were sneaking a look at the TV, the homeowner invited us to get in and watch with them. There was a non-local child who couldn’t understand what they were saying. Afraid of being scolded, he ran away immediately.” Dr Luk chuckled, appreciating the strong sense of community among neighbours revealed in these funny anecdotes. “There was a neighbour who worked at the fruit market and would buy fruits for our family on special occasions.”
“At first, my parents, younger sister and I lived in a unit at Wah Mei Lau. Later, with the birth of two more siblings, we became a family of six, applied for a larger unit, and moved to Pak Ling Lau.” Moving into a “larger unit” meant having space for two bunk beds. It was only after his younger siblings all grew up that Dr Luk had the luxury of his own nylon bed. The layout of the Luk family home reflects the reality at a time when the living standards of Hong Kong people were often subpar, and pursuing a better life was a common goal. Dr Luk witnessed how his neighbours were striving to improve their lives, such as a convenience store owner who would go door-to-door selling milk at night. “He was an inspiration, showing me that extra work could earn extra income.”
While adults worked hard to earn a living, Dr Luk, still a student at the time, diligently studied in the 200-square-foot unit, striving for academic excellence. His university entrance exam days were characterised by intense studying, often in less-than-ideal conditions. As he didn’t have his own room, while the terrace was occupied by the washing machine and the bedside was too dim, he had to study huddled in a corner of the living room. “It was a bit challenging to concentrate. There were exams throughout the year, but my family needed entertainment, and they wanted to watch TV. During the Chinese New Year, the adults would play mahjong too.” In the end, he managed to overcome the obstacles and successfully gained admission to university. He moved into the university dormitory, bidding farewell to this community full of memories. Around 2010, his parents also moved out from Kwun Tong Garden Estate.
Looking back, Dr Luk is always struck by the simple yet touching details. He fondly recalls the satisfaction of upgrading his meal to ham and omelette for just two dollars when ordering “today’s special” at Cheung Wing Café. “I still remember clearly how much joy those two dollars brought me.” Indeed, happiness has always been quite simple, the difficult times of the past have now become fleeting recollections. “Studying in such an environment have felt tough at the time, but looking back, it wasn’t so hard. That’s how I learned that we humans are incredibly resilient creatures.”
Returning to Kwun Tong Garden Estate, a place once intimately familiar to him, Dr Luk shared stories from the past during the revisit. Despite sweating inside his suit jacket, his serene and content smile never wavered.
Kwun Tong Garden Estate
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