Society

Zamm Jyun-bok has lived in Choi Hung Estate for 60 years. Nowadays, he takes visitors around the 62-year-old public housing estate with the aim of explaining what life is like there before it disappears. Local culture and lifestyle platform, Kongcept has been running these tours since 2022. The ageing public housing estate is slated for redevelopment, which will start in three years time. “For some, it could feel like travelling back in time. Since I’ve known this place for so long, I want to share the memories of living here and hope it can help people understand how special the estate is,” the 68-year-old said. “There would be two empty flats in every building used as a public space starting from the seventh floor. Children would gather there to play after school and on holidays while the older folks would play Mahjong,” Zaam said. “Residents would share food and joy during festivals, something that I cherish a lot in Choi Hung Estate." Another notable feature of the buildings, he added, is that while the overall layout is quite dense, the arrangement of the high-rise structures introduces a varied elevation, which helps to make the space feel less cramped. Participants of the tours get to visit old shops and stalls, such as the Ka Nam Store, founded in 1961. Owner Lau Kei, 70, has lived at the estate for more than 50 years. When his child grew up, he moved to Tseung Kwan O but continues to return daily to run his store. “I heard from many residents that the walls were peeling off and seeping,” said Lau, adding that he supports the reconstruction of the Choi Hung Estate. He said that he will miss the people he's acquainted with over the years once the redevelopment project begins. Kongcept is an …

People are now able to enter the Long Valley Nature Park in Sheung Shui after it opened earlier this November after a five-year development. According to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the 37-hectare nature park combines "wetland conservation, farming operation and nature education in one place." Long Valley Nature Park is divided into Agriculture, Biodiversity and Visitor Zones. The 11-hectare Agriculture Zone comprises farmland, which is leased out to the original farmers of Long Valley. The 21-hectare Biodiversity Zone features a variety of wetland habitats, including paddy fields and reed beds, becoming a trove for wildlife. The Visitor Zone spans 5 hectares, consisting of facilities like a birding hut and an education centre. The nature park is part of the Long Valley freshwater wetlands, the largest freshwater wetland remaining in the city. The freshwater wetland of Long Valley supports rich biodiversity with over 300 bird species observed at the site, according to the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS). “Long Valley hosts about 14 threatened bird species. One of the more concerned species is the critically-endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting,” said HKBWS research officer Jay Kong Pak-yung. Before the 2000s, the bunting species was abundant in agricultural southern China. However, because of overhunting and loss of habitat, the small migratory bird has been categorised as 'critically endangered' on the IUCN Red List since 2004. “Paddy fields provide food sources for these buntings and similar species like munias. Effective habitat management can help these birds to thrive and find Long Valley as a suitable place to feed and rest during the migratory season, ” Kong said. Endangered and rare species, such as the Black-faced Spoonbill and Tundra Bean Goose, have also been observed at the site. Birdwatcher Leo Sit said that the Long Valley was not well-maintained before the government stepped …