2012年9月28日 星期五

香港的「劏房」



題目:香港的「劏房」

「劏房」是香港所遇到其中一個最嚴重的住屋問題。「劏房」是細小的房間,通常由個一房屋單位再間隔出來的更小空間,是給人居住的。由於它一直困擾著香港,已經有一段悠長的時間,它的影響廣泛程度包括基層及香港市民。基層只能負擔低租金,是極不情願地住在這些小單位中再分間出來的「劏房」中留宿。事實上,這是草根階層的悲哀,無可奈何的生活在這些惡劣環境的單位中。

何以「劏房」能在香港普遍地存在呢?由於香港地少人多,約有七百萬人,這麼細小的地方,居然存在這樣的一個巨大的人口,真是匪疑所思;過度擁擠的居住環境滋生很多困難和問題。香港到處都是人煙稠密的。接近50%的香港人是基層和貧困大衆人士。為了減少日常開支,以彌補日常使用情況,如食物,他們往往選擇住在廉租的分間單位。然而,樓價仍繼續不斷地上升。

由於惡劣的生活條件,居住在這些「劏房」的居民遇到很多困難。那些糟糕的衛生條件,及共用設施,如廁所,廚房,供水,電力等。彼此之間經常爭論和吵架。黑社會中的不良分子很容易地滲入到他們的生活裏。居民通過電話交談,也很容易被別人聽到。郵箱中的來信很輕易地被他人竊取,甚至扔掉。如不同國家和語言不同的文化背景的人們住在一起,雙方會很容易造成誤解。他們生活在艱苦中。因為他們沒有能力達到兩全其美,於是走上這條困難重重的道路上,他們過著悲慘的生活,充滿壓力和沒有隱私可言。

201111 花園街排檔四級火,導致多人死亡,是最近十五年以來發生的大火災,雖然波及的唐樓沒有「劏房」問題,但是表明了密雜的居住環境帶來的災難;因為「劏房」普遍建設在唐樓中,所以提高了香港公眾對「劏房」的安全意識。這些火災危害建築物的結構安全。由於火災是危險的,特區政府對這個問題表現出了更多的關注。行政長官梁振英的十項措施,目的是為了冷卻房地產市場和住房價格的。然而,樓價郤繼續飆升。市民們普遍認為特區政府暫時無能力解決這個問題。

然而,需要注意的是,特區政府已安置這些居民住在公共屋邨。

我們應該樂觀地認為,這個問題在不久的將來將會得到解決的。預留時間給特區政府工作是現在最值得感恩的事情。在香港,分間單位的存在已有很長久的歷史。由香港開埠以來已受大眾歡迎。在我看來,特區政府應該鼓勵計劃設立細分的客房,解決當前急務。然而,這些建築物的安全設施必須處於高水平。今天,特區政府正在討論改建廠房大廈為住宅單位,是值得贊同的。如是者,為什麼不派給這些分間單位給市民呢?事實上,公共屋邨與分間單位的構造很相似。在這種方式中,它是可以解決即時的困境,達致有效的解決方案。你有同感嗎?
Mary
950字)

2012年9月27日 星期四

Sub-divided flats in HK



Title : Sub-divided flats in Hong Kong

Sub-divided flats is one of the most serious housing problems in Hong Kong.  As it has plagued HK for a long time, it affects the grass-root and citizens of Hong Kong to a wide extent.  The grass-root can only afford to live in small flats or sub-divided flats unwillingly.  Indeed, it is grief to live in these units.

There are several reasons why the sub-divided flats are popular in Hong Kong.  As Hong Kong is a small place with a huge population of about seven millions of people, the over-crowdedness occur much difficulty and many problems.  Everywhere is densely populated.  Nearly fifty percent of Hong Kong people belong to the grass-root level nowadays.  In order to reduce their daily expenses to compensate the daily usage such as food, they choose to live in sub-divided flats which are low-rented.  However, property prices continue to escalate.

Because of the poor living conditions of these flats, the residents encounter innumerable difficulties. They are bad hygiene condition, share facilities like toilets, kitchens, water supply, electricity… etc.  Frequently they argue and quarrel among themselves.  The bad elements from the triad societies will easily penetrate into them.  The residents’ conversations over phone are easily overheard by others.  The incoming letters in mailboxes are easily stolen by others or even thrown away.  People of different origins and cultural background such as different countries and languages will easily create misunderstanding.  They are having a hard life.  Since they have difficulty making both ends meet, they lead a miserable life full of pressure with no privacy at all.

The fire in Fa Yuen Street occurring in November 2011 raised public awareness of the safety of sub-divided flats in Hong Kong.  Nine persons were dead in the fire.  Many were injured.  Fire hazards are harmful to the structural safety of the buildings.  Since the fire was hazardous, the SAR government showed much concern over the problem.  The Chief Executive, CY Leung, launched ten measures or ten initiatives to cool the property market and home prices.  However, the soaring of property prices goes on and on.  It is generally anticipated by the public that the SAR government is incapable to solve the problem for the time being.

However, it’s interesting to note that the SAR government had resettled these residents to live in the public housing estates recently.

We should be optimistic that the problem will be solved in the near future.  Giving time to the SAR government will be the most grateful thing to do nowadays.  There is a long history of the existence of sub-divided flats in Hong Kong.  In my opinion, the SAR government should encourage plans to set up sub-divided rooms to solve the immediate serious problem.  However, the safety facilities of these buildings must be at a high level. Nowadays, there are so many government factory buildings being discussed for conversion to living units.  Why not  distribute them to the citizens as sub-divided flats?  In fact, public housing estates are like sub-divided flats.  In this way it can be solved with immediate effect.  Do you think so?  

Mary                                           


(500 words)

2012年9月3日 星期一

Summer memories 2012 **(夏日的回憶)



Title : Summer memories 2012 (夏日的回憶)
3rd September, 2012.

Time flies.  It seems only it’s yesterday when we paid visits to the relatives in Haifeng Xian, Tsuen Wan, Ching Yi, Tung Chung.  I start my new term of English Study in an evening school tonight.

In these summer holidays I spent most of my time doing housework, cooking and cleaning up the house.  I made clothes alterations so that they fit me more properly.  I did some Form 1 – Form 5 mathematic exercises.  And, I read some ‘old’ books, too. 

I stayed at home on Saturdays and Sundays watching the television, DVDs.  I cooked Italian, Japanese, Shanghais, Chinese and Korean dishes for fun.  I enjoyed my stays in Nathan Road, Kwun Tong, Tokwawan.  I visited Hong Kong Island - Causeway Bay, Mount Davis, the Peak. When I stayed at home, I turned on the air-conditioner to get cool comfort.  Occasionally, I fell asleep in my armchairs.

I joined several schoolmates’ gatherings.  I enjoyed chatting, communicating ideas with them.  I have suppers in Fu Kee roasted geese restaurant, Garden Jade Seafood restaurant, Fortune Chinese Food restaurant, etc. with relatives and friends.  I do the voluntary work for World Vision in a Saturday morning in August.

I strolled about Tai O and outlying islands of Hong Kong.  I appreciated the fresh air and beautiful sceneries.  I went to the libraries for short moments, not only enriching myself with useful knowledge, but also I got free air-conditioning.

I wandered along sand beaches and seaside at night solo, to escape the heat.  I loved roaring sea-wave.  I watched sunset, too.  I felt happy to do these activities.  I went to the cinema once in this summer.

As I’m having the diabetes symptom, I take the low-sweet drinks such as freezing lemon-zero-coke, salted lemon-zero-Schweppes, Sprite or 7Up.  I eat ‘no sugar added’ ice-cream, fruit and vegetable salads, beloved vegetation food and healthy dishes in this summer period.  Most of all, I like the dishes of fresh skillfully fried fishes, 'no sugar added' chocolates.

Certainly, I go to work in the office almost every day.  Every night when I go to bed I always mummer a wonderful proverb :- ‘Early to bed, early to rise, give you health and wealth!”
Thank you.

Mary