Stories of struggle on streets revealed as Hong Kong exhibition shines spotlight on plight of homeless
- Event by Society for Community Organisation is open every Saturday from March 16 to June 26
- Seven present or former homeless people have been invited to share their struggles with visitors
Kung Chung-ying recalls what it was like to sleep rough on the streets as he guides visitors at an exhibition on life stories of Hong Kong’s homeless every Saturday.
The 65-year-old Hongkonger, a former Japanese cuisine chef of more than 40 years, resigned from his restaurant job about four years ago after arthritis left his right hand weak. He used to rent a bed-space for HK$2,400 (US$308) a month in a Yau Ma Tei flat, which was shared by more than 40 people and had three bathrooms.
But after using up all his savings, he slept outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, in parks, and sometimes in McDonald’s restaurants for about three months, before moving into a hostel for the homeless and then a room provided by a house rental company where he worked as a cleaner for more than a year.
He now survives on a government allowance for the elderly, and lives in a partitioned room in a flat in Cheung Sha Wan for a monthly rent of HK$2,000.
Although his days of homelessness are over, Kung says he still feels sad thinking about them. But he also says the experience has prompted him to make improvements in his life, and he feels encouraged to tell others about it.
“By telling my own story, I hope more people will come to understand and pay attention to those in need,” he says.
