In the 60s and the 70s, a lot of primary and secondary school students worked after school to help support their families. Professor Lai was somewhat lucky. As a child, he never had to worry about making ends meet. However, in the old days, not every family could afford to buy a television set. Like every other kid at the time, he would gather with other kids outside a neighbour’s home to watch cartoons on TV. Sometimes a crowd of up to 10 may appear. 

To prepare for the public exams, Lai spent more time studying than watching TV after school when he was a Form 5 student. He turned the balcony into his private study with a folding table and a wooden stool and could easily spend half a day there with his textbooks. While sitting on the balcony, Lai was deeply impressed by the beautiful scenery outside. With no high-rise buildings nearby, Lai could enjoy an unobstructed view as far as Kowloon and Kai Tak Airport on the far side of the harbour. At that time, the hills and the sea were not too far away. The Shau Kei Wan bus terminus was sited on a mudflat where the elevated stilt houses of fishermen were located. In the summer, kites filled the sky. A game called “kite snatching” was popular among kids at the time. Children would try to snatch kites using strings or long forks. If you could grab hold of a kite, it’s yours. You may think kids would fear retribution, but Lai quickly explained, “It’s just one of those unspoken rules at the time.” Child innocence could be seen on Lai’s solemn face as he vividly reminisced about his childhood mischief. ​

“It’s not even 400 square feet?” The professor was stunned as his student reported his measurements of the flat. “It felt like at least 800 square feet to me.” Though currently residing in a 700 square feet apartment, Lai had always thought that his old home in Ming Wah was larger. “Maybe because we had a balcony protruding from the building, it made the space feel a lot more open.” That “openness” refers not only to the views, but also the relationship between neighbours. Residents did not mind sharing their TV sets, or having their kites snatched away, or even being disturbed while studying. “Women would gather and chat, people would play mahjong. Sometimes a neighbour would practise the trumpet or listen to music on hi-fi, but residents seldom complained.”