Refurbish or rebuild, Hong Kong’s housing renewal must put residents first
Policymakers confronting the city’s ageing building stock should respect residents’ wishes and protect their interests
The reason ordinary Hongkongers acted so swiftly and generously to help the victims of the Tai Po fire is that they understood instinctively just what a traumatic effect the tragedy must have had on their fellow citizens.
The loss of the family home would arouse the deepest emotions at any time. In circumstances where the loss was sudden, not the fault of the individuals themselves and accompanied by the deaths of scores of neighbours, the feelings would be particularly intense.
There is a fundamental difference between a mere “house” and a “home”. As we enter an era when literally hundreds of residential tower blocks every year will need to be extensively refurbished, it is vital that our policymakers and legislators fully understand the difference.