View from the top

Rooftop dwellers condemn for bureaucracy, call for resettlement

By Stella Wong

The government's inconsistent housing policy and its clear- ance actions have left rooftop dwellers with deep grievances.

In Tsuen Wan, some stood out to protest against the government. "We sleep on the street to show our discontent toward the government's improper policies," said Mr. Chiu Chi-sum, 45, a rooftop dweller at Chek Ming Building, demolished in December last year.

Mr. Chiu lived with his family in a rooftop flat bought by his mother 23 years ago.

"We went through legal procedures to buy the flat. We have paid property taxes and rates for 23 years. The forceful clearance only shows a lack of cooperation among government departments," Mr. Chiu complained.

The nightmare began three years ago, when Mr. Chiu received the first notice to moving from the government. It stated that his flat was an illegal building and would be demolished. He had to move out within three months or the moving would be done by the government instead. Dwellers at another block, the Tak Yan Building, faced the same problem. "The government cleared the building but declined to rehouse us. The excuse that we are proprietors and not eligible to apply for public housing is irresponsible and improper," said a 23-year-old Tak Yan Building dweller, Miss Lai Choi Hing.

A photo showing the kitchen corner of a rooftop flat.

But even more unbearable was that they were asked to shoulder a "supervision fee" in addition to the cost of demolition.

"Demolition of the flat costs about $10,000 in a lump sum, but the supervision fee is counted daily - about $5,000 to $6,000 a day. Some residents really cannot afford it.

"It is the government that's to blame. The costs should not be shouldered by us," Miss Lai said.

An alternative to moving out is going to a temporary housing centre, but the residents insisted on not to do so.

Said Mr. Chiu: "The living standards of these centres are even not comparable to those of Vietnamese detention centres. I won't move into any one of them."

According to Mr. Chiu, living conditions in rooftop flats, however, are not much better than that those of a temporary centre.

These flats are mostly centred in Tsuen Wan, Mong Kok, Tai Kwok Tsui and Kwun Tong.

On the roof of a building at Shang Tung Street in Mong Kok, more than three illegal flats were constructed. Each measures about 100 square feet.

"Our house is made of wood and iron sheets which are easily burnt up in a fire," said Mr. Ng, a rooftop dweller who declined to give his full name.

Moreover, rooftop is one of the emergency exits of the building in case of fire. Thus, these illegal flats pose a danger to the rest of the residents by obstructing the exit..

Poor sanitary systems are another concern: Nearly all rooftop flats lack private toilets. The residents have to use other kinds of drainage and public toilets instead, said Mr. Ng.

Yet, another rooftop flat at Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok is equipped with all the basic living facilities that a normal household has. It is just like a small flat in a public housing estate.

"There is electricity, water, a toilet and good transport. It is quite good to live here indeed," said the resident, Mr. Lau Tien He.

Facing pressure from government clearance, some residents actively voiced their opinions.

Demonstrations staged by Tsuen Wan residents, like the one outside Government House on December 14, 1994, called attention to their plight.

Mr. Lau did not think the legislators would help them as "they only stand on the side of the government."

The rooftop dwellers in Chek Ming Building and Tat Yan Building, in fact, did ask for help from legislators for years. Yet, not many of them have given concrete assistance.

"We had contacted Legislator Lee Wing Tat at least five times before our series of demonstrations began, but he refused to deal with the problems," said Miss Lai, the resident at Tak Yan Building.

"Only when the issue aroused concern did he promise to be a middleman between the Housing Authority, the Buildings Department and the residents."

Aligned with rooftop residents are voluntary organizations and concerned groups such as the Tsuen Wan Ecumenical Social Service Centres.

Miss Chan Yu of the Tsuen Wan Ecumenical Social Service Centre said that the government only actively deals with such problems as squatters and caged housing which capture public's attention, but it has failed to handle the rooftop dwellings for years.

She described the relationship between social workers and the residents as that of water and sand.

"When water is added to the sand, the mixture is cement which is strong and hard. This is just like our job: We make necessary communication in daytime, when the residents are at work.

A scene from a rooftop in Mong Kok, where many rooftop dwellers live.

"The residents themselves are very active. We mainly act as a source of information as many of them do not have much legal knowledge," Miss Chan said. The present manpower at her centre is not enough to help similar cases in other districts. Meanwhile, the only thing most residents can do is to wait. The problems become more complicated when some of the rooftop dwellers in Hong Kong pay property tax and rates, while others do not.

Mr. Ng, a rooftop resident at Shang Tung Street, said, "It is not our property, as we just rent it for $10 every month from the owners of this building.

"I have not paid any rates or property taxes. I do not have much legal knowledge. Though I am worried about the future, I can do nothing about it," he said.

The situation is similar in the case of Mr. Lau, the resident on Tong Choi Street. His flat is not registered, nor has he paid any property taxes or rates in the past seven years.

"Of course, I worry that the government will demolish my flat one day. Yet, the flat is illegal and the only thing I can do is to wait for rehousing or just sleep on the street.

"I have applied for public housing for eight years, but I have been just kept waiting," Mr. Lau added.

But he is running out of time. A letter from the government had requested him to move out three years ago.

"I sent letters to the related departments, but there was no response," Mr. Lau said.

A timely new policy from the Housing Department to demolish the most dangerous rooftop structures in Hong Kong was carried out then. His flat was classified as good in structure, thus escaping demolition.

Mr. Lau described demonstrations by the Tsuen Wan residents as useless.

"Hong Kong Government only stands on the side of the Land Development Company which helps to gross money through its investment.

"It is beautiful to say democracy at any time, but the government's policies are always cheating people.

"Unless all the rooftop dwellers in Hong Kong stand up to stage a petition, the government will not change the present policy, nor will it rehouse all the residents," Mr. Lau said.