Hong Kong opens ninth community living room this year in Kwun Tong
Hong Kong's Chief Secretary opened the Yiu Man Square community living room, the ninth launched this year and the first in Kwun Tong. The facility serves subdivided-flat residents, with 18 such rooms now operating across the city, supporting about 10,000 households.
Hong Kong's Chief Secretary opened the Yiu Man Square community living room in Kwun Tong on 9 November, the ninth such facility launched this year and the first in the district. The 4,000-square-foot flagship centre is expected to serve 420 subdivided-flat households, providing about 67,000 visits annually.
With this opening, the total number of community living rooms across Hong Kong has reached 18, serving approximately 10,000 subdivided-flat households, according to the Chief Secretary. The initiative represents a partnership between the government, businesses and community groups to improve living conditions for residents in subdivided flats.
The facility offers cooking and dining areas, laundry and shower facilities, a music room, study spaces with homework tutoring, and on-site social workers providing emotional support, life-skills talks and referral services. A frozen-meal vending machine from the Food Angel charity is also available.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Secretary noted that about a quarter of the centre's members are from ethnic minorities, the highest proportion among all community living rooms. She said she spoke with several children who spoke fluent Cantonese and appeared happy, indicating successful integration into the community.
The Chief Secretary thanked site sponsor perFACE and its founder for donating the venue and renovation costs, as well as the Ngau Tau Kok District Neighbourhood Welfare Association for operating the centre. She said the first four community living rooms—in Sham Shui Po, Hung Hom, Nam Cheong and To Kwa Wan—have all had their sponsorship periods extended after completing three years of operation.
The government plans to continue identifying suitable locations for more community living rooms, the Chief Secretary said. She described the facilities as a 'warm home' for residents and encouraged users to take full advantage of the services while the government works to improve housing conditions and build more public housing.