District governance: Revamping estates for comfy homes

2025-07-13 11:16 Last Updated At：11:16

The Government is committed to improving the effectiveness of district governance and one of the key issues of focus is improving the environment of public housing estates and creating comfortable homes.

Diligent efforts
With this in mind, the Housing Bureau announced the launch of a resident-oriented "Well-being design" guide last year, which serves as a reference for the improvement works of existing estates.

Click to Gallery

Positive feedback: The improvement works in Ping Shek Estate ensure that residents enjoy a comfortable living environment. Source from news.gov.hk

Community connection: Students of a nearby kindergarten enjoy the new fun areas. Source from news.gov.hk

Regular revamps: Assistant Director of Housing Michael Hong says each year 10 estates will be selected to undergo minor improvement works. Source from news.gov.hk

Valuable feedback: "Let’s Go Well-being Chak On" Design Competition (Students Category) winning team member Gia He (left) says her team spoke to the estate residents to hear their user experience and input on the design. Source from news.gov.hk

Inclusive space: The Housing Bureau’s "Let’s Go Well-being Chak On" Design Competition helps to revitalise Chak On Estate’s public spaces. Source from news.gov.hk

More Images

Positive feedback: The improvement works in Ping Shek Estate ensure that residents enjoy a comfortable living environment. Source from news.gov.hk

Community connection: Students of a nearby kindergarten enjoy the new fun areas. Source from news.gov.hk

Regular revamps: Assistant Director of Housing Michael Hong says each year 10 estates will be selected to undergo minor improvement works. Source from news.gov.hk

Valuable feedback: "Let’s Go Well-being Chak On" Design Competition (Students Category) winning team member Gia He (left) says her team spoke to the estate residents to hear their user experience and input on the design. Source from news.gov.hk

Inclusive space: The Housing Bureau’s "Let’s Go Well-being Chak On" Design Competition helps to revitalise Chak On Estate’s public spaces. Source from news.gov.hk

Assistant Director of Housing Michael Hong said each year about 10 estates will be selected to undergo minor improvement works.

“In general, the minor improvement works will include enhancements of the recreation facilities as well as the pedestrian routing.

“We also have five estates to carry out theme-based estate improvement works.”

Improving public spaces and amenities of public housing estates requires diligent efforts to address residents' daily needs through practical actions. This approach leads to tangible improvements within the community.

Recently, the improvement works in Ping Shek Estate have ensured that residents enjoy a comfortable living environment. Kung Fu Court is one of the success stories.

“In Kung Fu Court, in the past, it was only green in colour. So we added some colours to it. We also added a 100m trail on the court so that elderly residents can walk or run along the trail.

“There is a kindergarten nearby, we can see that the kids can enjoy these very fun areas.

“Every day, they will come out and have some activities. And we can see the smile on their faces.”

Important input
Citizens can also play their part in promoting well-being at public housing estates.

In an effort to revitalise Chak On Estate's public spaces, the Housing Bureau organised the "Let's Go Well-being Chak On" Design Competition in January.

The competition was divided into two categories that include the “students” group and the “emerging” group, covering four public spaces: Chak On Plaza - Estate Stage; Communal space - Cultural & Recreational Room; Estate landmark - Sunset Plaza; and Intergeneration Fitness Playscape.

A group of master’s degree students majoring in urban design gathered extensive feedback from residents through workshops and interviews.

Their efforts allowed them to excel in the competition and ultimately win.

"Let's Go Well-being Chak On" Design Competition (Students Category) winning team member Gia He said her team spoke to estate residents to hear their user experience and input on the design when creating their design.

“They told us their stories of this community, their life. We were touched by their love for their life and also their love for this community.

Miss He added that the team’s design was mainly based on the residents' requests.

“The area is mostly suitable for them to use, like they have a comfortable seating area, an area for them to talk with each other or play with their children or play chess, anything they want to do.”

The winning projects will serve as a reference for the detailed design of the improvements to Chak On Estate.

Miss He and her teammates are currently working as interns at a design consultancy.

Under the guidance of professional consultants and relevant departments, the design plan was optimised in hopes of overcoming technical difficulties.

She added that they will do their utmost to transform the design project from the drawing board to reality.

Miami heading home for shot at national title after beating Ole Miss 31-27 in Fiesta Bowl

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Miami’s return to relevance was a long, winding road filled with more downs than ups.

Even when the Hurricanes rejoined the national conversation, they were doubted, told they didn’t belong.

Through it all, they kept chugging along — straight into the national championship game.

Carson Beck scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left, and Miami will head back home for a shot at its first national title since 2001 after beating Mississippi 31-27 in an exhilarating College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.

“We never flinched,” said Beck, who threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. “In the face of adversity, when we had to respond, we responded.”

The 10th-ranked Hurricanes (13-2) didn’t play in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game and were a somewhat controversial CFP pick – at least outside of South Florida – yet proved they belong.

Miami held Texas A&M and reigning national champion Ohio State to a combined 17 points to reach the CFP semifinals. Then the Hurricanes shut down the high-scoring Rebels (13-2) for three quarters in the desert before pulling it out in a wild fourth.

Malachi Toney, hero of Miami's opening CFP win over Texas A&M, turned a screen pass into a 36-yard touchdown that put the Hurricanes up 24-19.

Trinidad Chambliss, a year removed from winning a Division II title at Ferris State, led the Rebels down the field and found Dae'Quan Wright for a 24-yard touchdown with 3:13 left.

Then it was Beck's turn.

He won a national title as a backup at Georgia before two productive seasons as the Bulldogs' starter. Beck kept the Hurricanes calm amid the storm, leading them down the field for the winning score — and a shot at a national title on their home field at Hard Rock Stadium.

Now 37-5 as a starter, Beck gets one more chance at glory against against top-ranked Indiana or No. 5 Oregon on Jan. 19 in the CFP championship game.

“He’s hungry, he’s driven, he’s a great human being, and all he wants to do is to see his teammates have success,” said Mario Cristobal, in his fourth season coaching his alma mater. “And that’s what we witnessed tonight.”

The sixth-seeded Rebels lost their coach before the playoff, but not their cool.

If anything, Lane Kiffin’s decision to bolt for LSU seemed to harden Ole Miss’ resolve, pushing the Rebels to the best season in school history — and within a game of their first national championship game.

“I will just remember how they embraced each other,” Ole Miss coach Pete Golding said. “There was a lot going on the last month. They're going to be talking about this for a long time.”

They sure will.

Ole Miss took the lead on Lucas Carneiro’s fourth field goal, from 21 yards, and seemed poised to continue its improbable run with Chambliss’ TD pass to Wright.

Even after Beck's touchdown, the Rebels still had a chance.

Chambliss completed two passes to get Ole Miss to the Miami 35 with 6 seconds left, offering a glimmer of hope.

The best season in Rebels history ended when Chambliss' heave to the end zone fell incomplete as time expired, but what a run it was.

“This team has just sacrificed a lot to get to this point,” said Chambliss, who threw for 277 yards and a touchdown. “This season’s been bumpy and there’s been a lot of things going on, and we just kept our focus. It’s been truly special.”

With Golding calling the shots after being promoted from defensive coordinator — and most of the assistants sticking around — the Rebels blew out Tulane to open the playoff and took down mighty Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals.

They faced a different kind of storm in the Hurricanes.

Miami has rekindled memories of its 2001 national championship team behind a defense that went from porous to nearly impenetrable in its first season under coordinator Corey Hetherman.

The Hurricanes walled up early in the Fiesta Bowl, holding Ole Miss to minus-1 yard.

One play revved up the Rebels and their rowdy fans.

Kewan Lacy, the nation’s third-leading rusher, burst through a hole up the middle for a 73-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter — the longest run allowed by Miami’s defense since 2018.

The Hurricanes seemed content to grind away at the Rebels in small chunks offensively, setting up CharMar Brown’s 4-yard touchdown run and a field goal.

Miami unlocked the deep game just before halftime, taking advantage of a busted coverage for a 52-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Keelan Marion.

Carneiro made a 58-yard field goal just before halftime, had a 51-yarder bounce off the left upright and caromed in a 54-yarder off the same upright later in the third quarter.

The kicker's ups and downs mirrored the Rebels' night in the desert, one that ended with the Hurricanes heading home to play for a championship.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

District governance: Revamping estates for comfy homes

HK