Situated in the Tung Chung new town extension area, the new public housing estate—Ying Tung Estate—has been ready for occupants to move in since March 2018. But the new community still lacks neighbourhood facilities and residents are upset by basic renovation and furnishings, which they would have to priortise.
Having served the Tung Chung district for 20 years, the H.K.S.K.H. Tung Chung Integrated Services is currently providing outreach support services to residents at Ying Tung Estate, and a new service centre is also expected to be established at Ying Tung Estate at the end of 2018, facilitating residents to integrate into the community. In April 2018, the Tung Chung Integrated Services partnered with groups and volunteers in Tung Chung to organise volunteer services twice to allocate second-hand household appliances and furniture to residents. Under the guidance of home renovation experts, student volunteers helped residents lay floorboards and settle down in their new home.
The staff from the centre also distributed intake information kits with application forms of electric, gas and water services as well as home inspection checklist to Ying Tung Estate residents, highlighting the key points to be aware of before taking possession of, and moving into the new flats. Home inspection tools were also lent to residents for home inspection. These timely measures indeed helped relieve residents’ financial pressure of moving home.
In addition to the relief measures, the centre set up booths in the estate to approach residents and provide information and assistance to them, and designed a community playground featuring various activities such as balloon twisting, merry rainbow and homemade mosquito repellent sessions, where residents could join in the fun. The interaction between social workers and residents can on the one hand foster better mutual trust and understanding, and on the other, help identify the needy earlier so as to give them appropriate support.
On 5 May, the centre also organised the “Sky Striker” summer programmes cum carnival to help residents cope with children’s schooling problems. Twelve participating secondary and primary schools in Tung Chung set up booths to offer relevant information while demonstrating the special features of their curriculum and their school mission through different interactive games, which assist parents and their children in deciding whether to transfer schools or further their studies at their original schools.
Thanks to the joint efforts of Tung Chung residents, our lovely community – in love with Lantau, Build & Wish Voluntary Team, Aviation Security Company Limited, The SHKP Volunteer Team, Time Chain Holdings Limited, JPC Lantau, Tung Chung Catholic School, Ho Yu College And Primary School (Sponsored By Sik Sik Yuen), Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College and HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School, our volunteering services have been done successfully, showcasing a three-way partnership among the social service sector, business sector and the community. In the days ahead, the centre will pool together more social resources to support residents in need and construct a better community.