Diamond Hill Estate Residents Protest as Second Exit Disappears After Move-In
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
Residents of Kai Cheung Estate (啟翔苑) in Diamond Hill, one of Hong Kong's most sought-after subsidized housing developments, are crying foul over what they describe as a bait-and-switch in the estate's design. When the development launched several years ago, its proximity to the MTR station was a major selling point, with the "king of units" reportedly sold within 30 minutes. Now, three years after occupation, approximately 940 households have discovered that one of two planned pedestrian exits has been sealed off, leaving them with a single, poorly designed route to the railway.
Key Points
- The estate's sales brochure originally depicted two pedestrian exits, but the northwest exit was cancelled before residents moved in, with no prior notice or consultation
- The remaining pedestrian route from the estate's main entrance along Choi Hung Road is only about 1.5 metres wide, requiring residents to navigate an exposed "L-shaped" path to reach the MTR
- According to resident Ms. Cheung, the cancelled northwest exit would have been approximately 20 metres from a barrier-free lift connecting directly to the MTR, taking less than one minute without crossing any roads
- The Housing Authority explained that the adjacent public housing site was re-designated for the Green Form Home Ownership scheme (Kai Chuen Estate), prompting the exit cancellation to clarify property management responsibilities
- The Housing Authority confirmed in March 2022 that the Independent Checking Unit approved the exit removal, though residents say they received no notification
- A pedestrian tunnel connecting Sze Mei Street through Choi Hung Road to Diamond Hill MTR station is slated to open in December, requiring residents to walk approximately 70 metres from the estate's main entrance
- Residents with prams and wheelchair users have described the current route as particularly difficult during rainy seasons and extreme heat, with elderly residents sometimes arriving at the lobby in distress
Why It Matters
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions between transparency in public housing sales and the Housing Authority's discretion to modify estate designs after sales contracts are signed. As Hong Kong continues to expand its subsidized housing pipeline, questions about the binding nature of sales brochures and the adequacy of consultation mechanisms will shape buyer confidence in future developments .
This controversy highlights ongoing tensions between transparency in public housing sales and the Housing Authority's discretion to modify estate designs after sales contracts are signed. As Hong Kong continues to expand its subsidized housing pipeline, questions about the binding nature of sales brochures and the adequacy of consultation mechanisms will shape buyer confidence in future developments .