bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Emily Hung

The operator of a Hong Kong transitional public housing estate has said it was fixing a problem with the water pressure that had led to widespread seepage affecting more than 100 households and caused mushrooms to grow in residents’ rooms.
The problems with the building quality of T-Loft@Kai Tak on Muk On Street surfaced when residents complained to a district councillor that water had been seeping through the walls and pipes had burst since late April.
Operated by a local charity, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the four-storey complex has more than 500 flats and houses about 1,500 residents, who begin to move into the complex in March.
The project cost about HK$280 million.

Photos provided by residents showed visible water stains at the bottom of the walls, with mildew and mushrooms growing out of them. Some floor tiles had also come loose due to the water damage.
In some flats, water pipes had burst or leaked.
During rainy days, corridors half open to the elements were covered in water puddles, forcing residents to place sandbags against their doors to prevent water from flowing into their flats.
Albert Su Yau-on, chief executive of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, said on Sunday that water pressure was the cause of the problem and that steps were being taken by the building contractor to remedy the situation.
“We are confident that we have solved the root of the problem with a water pressure regulator installed,” he said. “We followed the government guidelines in property inspection and repairs were arranged for tenants who made such requests before they moved in.”
Among the 100 households affected, about 60 reported water seepage in the walls and 40 reported burst or leaked pipes. Some had both.

Su said about 20 per cent of the affected flats were still in need of repairs and they aimed to have the project finished in September.
He added the half-open air corridors were designed to increase ventilation, exposing the building to the impact of extreme weather conditions.
The operator was installing bars along the base of doors to prevent water from entering from the corridors into the flats.
An inspection has been arranged for all flats to identify potential problems, with the main contractor bearing all repair costs.
The operator also reassured tenants that other transitional housing projects under the charity were not using the same contractor.

District councillor Lam Pok, who had been helping the affected residents, said the operator should offer compensation because many residents were forced to replace their furniture.
“Many residents were very stressed about it and their daily lives were impacted … some couldn’t stand it and chose to stay a few nights at their relatives’ place or a hotel,” he said.
Lam called on the government to enhance its monitoring of the building quality of transitional housing.
“For example, could it set up a team to inspect the quality on a spot-check basis before residents move in, instead of relying on the operators themselves?” Lam said.


Hong Kong can woo South American companies with sourcing expertise, tech support: experts

About 90% of Hongkongers in favour of prioritising local renewable energy, survey finds

Mainland China tech giant Baidu applies to launch autonomous vehicle trials in Hong Kong

University in Hong Kong recruits 100 overseas, mainland Chinese academics in 2-year drive

Hong Kong economy

Repairs pledged for Hong Kong transitional public housing full of leaking water, mushrooms

T-Loft@Kai Tak on Muk On Street. Operated by a local charity, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, the four-storey complex has more than 500 flats and houses about 1,500 residents. Photo: Jelly Tse

A photos provided by a resident shows water stains on a doorframe. Photo: SCMP

Water pours into the corridor, forcing residents to block the bottom of their doors. Photo: SCMP

Visible water stains at the bottom of walls, with mildew and fungus growing out of them. Photo: SCMP

Hong Kong housing authorities find enough land to provide 21,000 transitional flats by early 2025

Residents view mock-ups of transitional housing to be offered to those living in subdivided flats. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

A transitional housing project along Wong Tai Sin Road in Kowloon. Photo: Jelly Tse

Transitional flats play pivotal role in easing Hong Kong’s housing crunch as city looks to secure enough land supply, official says

Hong Kong’s deputy housing chief officiated a commencement ceremony ahead of the construction of a new community service building in Kam Tin. Photo: Yeung-man

Undersecretary for Housing Victor Tai (first from left) says short-term policies were necessary to alleviate the plight of underprivileged residents. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

A commencement ceremony ahead of the construction of a new community service building in Kam Tin. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

News

Hong Kong

Widespread seepage is affecting more than 100 households at T-Loft@Kai Tak and has caused mushrooms to grow in residents’ rooms


Widespread seepage is affecting more than 100 households at T-Loft@Kai Tak and has caused mushrooms to grow in residents’ rooms.


Hong Kong housing