A passerby takes photos of Tai Hang Sai Estate with Lion Rock in the distance. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

On Christmas Day of 1953, a massive fire swept through Kowloon’s Shek Kip Mei squatter area, leaving 50,000 people homeless. The calamity spurred the then-government to confront the escalating housing crisis amid surging immigration, leading to sweeping housing reforms. Outcomes included the establishment of a public housing system that’s still a cornerstone of social life, and the construction of privately owned complexes, serving the same purpose of providing affordable rent to those in need. 

Tai Hang Sai Estate, comprising eight blocks built in 1965 and 1977, was the last of these private tenements until its closure in March. A government-led redevelopment initiative moved to relocate over 2,500 residents, with over 98 percent accepting the arrangement. Most of the households are eligible to return upon the project’s completion, which promises to double the number of available units by 2029.

As the neighborhood braces for the transformation, China Daily’s photographer Andy Chong pictured the remnants of the rust, peeling paint, and tattered household items on March 12 and 13. The photos have borne witness to not just the physical rebuilding from the remains and systematic commitment to a more secure life, but also the resilience and courage across generations.

A midair view of Tai Hang Sai Estate. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Iron gates and curtains of households in Tai Hang Sai Estate. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Iron gates and curtains of households in Tai Hang Sai Estate. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Iron gates and curtains of households in Tai Hang Sai Estate. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

Iron gates and curtains of households in Tai Hang Sai Estate. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

A barber’s pole and signboard on the upper floor of Tai Hang Sai Estate. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

A banner demanding resettlement plans is posted outside the building. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

A unique pattern of ventilation bricks in a block’s corridor. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

A resident’s television broadcasts the news. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The remaining complexes attract architectural enthusiasts out to preserve memories. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

A resident looks out of the window from the nearly empty building. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

A visitor poses for a photo at a pavilion in Tai Hang Sai Estate. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)