How a ‘green living’ Hong Kong family survives on HK$8,000 monthly
They farm their own vegetables, recycle wood for fire and have not used toilet paper in over a decade
Environmentalist Mok Ho-kwong and his wife spend their days in a small, rural house tucked between Fanling and Kam Tin. They tend their farmland, where they grow their own vegetables.
They cook their dinners using abandoned wood from garbage, and wash their hair with tea seed powder. They wash their clothes with baking soda in a nearby stream. They haven’t used toilet paper in over a decade, choosing instead to use water for cleansing.
Called “Ye Yan” in Cantonese – which translates to “Wild Man” – by those who know him, 34-year-old Mok is an environmentalist who has embraced what he refers to as “green living” for almost a decade. Mok, his wife and their six-month-old baby strive to live their lives in the most sustainable way possible by reducing their energy usage and waste. The house is sparse, with only a computer, a fridge, and some lights.
“Consumption does not mean happiness. Happiness actually comes from everywhere, and is not related to money or property,” says Mok, who works as a nature educator and activity instructor for self-launched social enterprise Natural Network, which promotes nature.
Consumption does not mean happiness. Happiness actually comes from everywhere, and is not related to money or property
“We don’t need much money to live this way. We spend less than HK$8,000 per month. We’re definitely happier,” adds Mok.
