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How can we create a more beautiful and comfortable environment for a public housing estate community, with more than 40 years of history and over 10,000 residents, bringing a little extra joy into their daily lives?
Over the past few months, Link and the Housing Department have respectively completed several community enhancement projects at Tuen Mun’s Butterfly Estate. Link carried out an asset enhancement project to upgrade the Butterfly Market, improving its spatial layout, introducing new shops and enhancing amenities such as toilet facilities. The Housing Department, meanwhile, decorated exterior walls with colourful butterfly murals. In addition, Link added vibrant colours to the exterior walls and surface of Butterfly Plaza’s third-floor roof, and installed flower beds. It also organised planting activities for elderly residents from a nearby care home. These residents added beauty and freshness to their living environment by planting beautiful flowers with their own hands. In doing so, they also enhanced the community’s sense of well-being.
In late June, representatives of the Housing Department and Link, along with Tuen Mun District Councillors, visited residents of the Kiangsu Chekiang and Shanghai Residents (Hong Kong) Association Tuen Mun Hostel for the Elderly at Butterfly Estate. They invited the hostel’s superintendent and eight elderly residents to participate in the Butterfly Community Planting Day, sharing the joy of enhancing the community together.
Ninety-year-old Aunt Ping, energetically planted anthuriums and golden dewdrops with others. She enjoys leisurely strolls near the elderly home and has loved gardening since she was young, with a particular fondness for fragrant flowers such as jasmine and mock lime. Speaking about the planting activity, Aunt Ping says: “Planting flowers is refreshing and can add a touch of nature to the community.”
Uncle Tung-ming, who is 88 years old, lives in the same care home as Aunt Ping. He also likes to go out for regular walks and enjoys participating in activities. “Today, I planted beautiful flowers, which have enlivened the entire community,” he says. “What makes me even happier is seeing the colourful flowers as soon as I step out of the elderly home. It lifts my spirits.”
Superintendent of the Kiangsu Chekiang and Shanghai Residents (Hong Kong) Association Tuen Mun Hostel for the Elderly commended Link’s community renovation project and planting activity, saying: “The overall response from the elderly has been very positive. It allows them to take pleasure in a beautiful environment and breathe more fresh air, which makes them very happy.” She hopes that everyone in the community will cherish the new facilities and this small green oasis.
Tuen Mun District Councillor Chung Kin-fung, who joined the elderly home visit and the planting activity, believes that Link’s Asset Enhancement Initiative and Butterfly Estate renovation programme help improve citizens’ sense of well-being. “Everyone knows that living in Hong Kong is stressful and rushed. I believe that Link’s renovation programme, combined with the Housing Department’s ‘Well-being’ Design Projects, can boost residents’ happiness, which is vital for creating a vibrant community. Residents won’t feel happy if the entire community is dull and lacking in vitality.”
Chung Kin-fung suggests adding social inclusion facilities, such as barrier-free access for wheelchair users, to improve the community even more. “Asset enhancement can benefit the entire society. When the environment gets better and more recreation areas are provided, residents are more willing to spend. Appealing mall facilities can also attract shoppers, which benefits the overall economy.”
