Li Wai Ha, Resident of Kwun Tong Garden Estate
As the agreed-upon time arrived, 88-year-old Li Wai Ha, alone at home, opened the folding gate, peeked out, and greeted us with a warm smile. She lives in Wah Mei Lau, where sunlight pours into her sea-facing flat, illuminating the entire living room, including an old-fashioned sewing machine she has used for decades. In the past, Li relied on this machine for her livelihood, but now she uses it to mend clothes for her neighbours, helping others while also finding joy in the task. On this day, as she recounted her journey from 50 years ago when she moved from Jordan to Kwun Tong Garden Estate, Li reflected on over half a century of life that included working in a factory, raising children, and in her later years, receiving care and support from her neighbours. “My life has been filled with beautiful things because of this place.” she said.
In the 1970s, Li and her husband first arrived in the sparsely populated Kwun Tong, which only began to attract more residents as industrial development progressed. “My relatives and friends told me that Kwun Tong was newly developed, and the buildings constructed by the Hong Kong Housing Society are really practical, so I wanted to apply for a flat.” Much to their surprise, the application was successful. Kwun Tong Garden Estate offered flats with individual bathrooms and kitchens, ideal for a family of four who had lived in a partitioned room before the relocation. They initially moved into the Orchid House of the first phase “flower blocks”, and later into Wah Mei Lau of the second phase “bird blocks”, where she lives to this day. Due to her husband’s modest income as a bus driver, Li took up a job at a factory in Kwun Tong to help support their household. With just a couple of streets separating their living space from their means of livelihood, this kind of community sustained numerous grassroots families.
During that time, Kwun Tong was a hub of factories, with street vendors filling the streets like pieces on a chessboard. Lunch breaks were vibrant with activities as food stalls thrived, and the after-work hours only drew in a larger crowd. “There were so many delicious options and the fried sweet potatoes were incredibly cheap!” She still recalled negotiating with the factory owner to get paid weekly, so that her son could have some pocket money for snacks after school. Another fond memory was her close friendship with her co-workers, whom she would help relocate, and they would catch early movies at the Silver Theatre together, which is one of Kwun Tong’s landmarks. Li would carry her younger son on her back while holding the hand of her older son as they entered the theater which had long been demolished.
Nevertheless, Li’s time working in the factory was short-lived. Concerned about her children’s well-being, she switched to a job where she would obtain materials from the factory and sew at home. “Most housewives did the same,” she explained. “They would sit in the corridors knitting sweaters, cutting threads, sticking decorative flowers while looking after their children.” Even today, the neighbours she got to know then still stay in touch, calling each other and meeting up for tea, and playing a non-gambling version of mahjong as leisure time. However, their outings and interactions have been limited by the pandemic in recent years. Fortunately, she still has familiar neighbours on the same floor of the housing estate. In gratitude for her son’s free tutoring sessions for their daughter, “they would never hesitate to take me to the doctor if I felt unwell.”
Kwun Tong Garden Estate has been a home where people have grown old together for almost 60 years. Many elderly residents, just like Li, live alone in this community. Alongside the mutual support among neighbours and the regular visits by estate management staff, the Garden Estate offers a range of elderly support services, which provide Li with a profound sense of peace of mind.
Li’s son visits her regularly, but she recently injured her back and must use a wheelchair to go to the hospital for check-ups so her daily activities now require extra assistance. “I would describe the elderly services provided by various social welfare organisations in this district as attentive and comprehensive.” Every month, a technician would visit her home to inspect and repair her two wheelchairs. Furthermore, there are social welfare organisations that provide meal delivery services, handle medical appointments, and even assign caregivers to regularly check in on her over the phone. Nowadays, social workers frequently give her a call to offer support and care.
Having lived in Kwun Tong Garden Estate for half a century, Li expresses gratitude and joy. “Everyone helps each other out without complaints!” Her two sons have long graduated from university, and even her grandchildren are about to embark on their careers. To this day, she still remembers when her neighbours helped her take her son to the examination or install door hinges. Recollecting these small acts of kindness, she says, “It all feels like family.”
Kwun Tong Garden Estate
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