After more than 60 years, Choi Hung Estate, one of Hong Kong’s Instagram hotspots, is slated for a three-phase redevelopment commencing in 2028 and spanning over 20 years.
The highly anticipated development roadmap for Choi Hung —which means “rainbow” — was revealed on Wednesday by the Housing Authority. The first phase of the revitalization will include the rainbow-colored Tan Fung House, which means that the tourist attraction is likely to disappear in 2028. The second phase will start between 2035 and 2036, while the final phase is expected to commence around 2042.
Choi Hung Estate, completed between 1962 and 1964, is one of the most iconic public housing complexes in Hong Kong. Situated in Ngau Chi Wan, Wong Tai Sin District, Kowloon, encompassing 5.1 hectares, this estate comprises two vacant school premises and 11 blocks housing 7,400 units. Presently, it serves as a home to about 18,000 residents. Some buildings in Choi Hung Estate boast a rainbow-colored facade, making it a hotpot spot that enchants countless residents and visitors to take photos and post them on social media.
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The first phase would demolish three blocks along with two vacant school premises, impacting one-third of the estate’s residents. These residents will be relocated to the redeveloped Mei Tung Estate, situated a 30-minute walk from Choi Hung Estate, offering 2,450 units.
The second demolition phase is projected to commence in 2035, involving four blocks, impacting 2,830 households. These residents are slated to be transferred to the 3,200 new flats offered by the completion of Choi Hung Estate’s first redevelopment phase.
The third phase, scheduled to start in 2042, involves four buildings and a multi-story parking lot—the very place where visitors gather to take pictures. Residents affected by this phase will transition to the 4,100 new flats provided by the completion of Choi Hung Estate’s second redevelopment phase.
The Housing Authority said that it would take 15 years from the occupation of the new flats in the first phase to the final phase and 20 years for the whole Choi Hung Estate to be reconstructed. After redevelopment, Choi Hung Estate is expected to offer approximately 9,200 flats, an increase of around 1,800 flats compared to its current capacity.
Affected residents may have the option to relocate to refurbished public rental housing units in the district of their preference if there are enough resources. They will also receive priority in selecting flats under government housing schemes, the authority noted.
They will also have the opportunity to receive relocation allowances, with eligible singletons and two-person families able to choose allowances instead of public housing.
The Wong Tai Sin District Council will discuss the proposed relocation plan next Tuesday.
Mok Kin-wing, a council member of Wong Tai Sin District, said that the duration of the 20-year redevelopment plan is too long, adding that the government should explore innovative construction methods to expedite the process.
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Frankie Ngan Man-yu, a Legislative Council member for the Kowloon East constituency, said that Choi Hung Estate’s prime location in the city would pose challenges for its redevelopment, particularly in managing traffic diversion and other logistical concerns.
Ngan said he believed that this plan was not the finalized proposal, and called on the government to disclose more details, including post-redevelopment layout and relocation allowances, to the public.
Another lawmaker, Bill Tang Ka-piu, said that the redevelopment process at Choi Hung Estate would cause noise and dust, suggesting residents consider these effects if they choose to stay in the estate during the redevelopment.
