Editorial | Community spaces are a welcome addition
They are good examples of how government, businesses and charities can join hands to build a more caring and inclusive community
Nothing is more heartwarming during the Lunar New Year than getting together with family members and friends. Unfortunately, this cherished Chinese tradition has become a luxury for many Hongkongers living in subdivided flats. Their shoebox units are often cramped and squalid, so much so that there is hardly any space to receive visitors.
The pledge by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to set up more community living spaces within this year is to be welcomed.
The first Community Living Room was established in December 2023 with a view to providing additional space with diversified facilities and services for grass-roots families to meet their needs in daily lives and social activities.
The communal living rooms are not just popular places for impoverished families to do their cooking and laundry, take a break, meet other people and explore their potential. They are also good examples of how the government, businesses and charities can join hands to build a more caring and inclusive community.
Residents would be pleased to learn that another three community living spaces will be launched this year. Two of them have already received funding from the government’s Commission on Poverty and are scheduled to open in June.
They are located in Shau Kei Wan in Eastern district and on Ko Shan Road in Kowloon City, joining four others in Sham Shui Po, Nam Cheong, To Kwa Wan and Hung Hom.
