So Uk Estate 'Little White House' Transforms into Community Hub
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Housing Bureau Secretary announced that So Uk Estate's historic Little White House, once a kerosene shop, has been revitalized into a community service center called China Overseas Happiness Community. The China Overseas Love Foundation officially opened the center on October 17, 2026, offering residents services including computer lending, printing, library access, and Chinese medicine clinics. The renovated building features a lake-green roof and colorful heart-shaped floor patterns. The center will focus on supporting elderly residents and children while serving as a shared living room space for the estate.
Key Points
- The Little White House is one of the "Three Treasures of So Uk Estate" preserved when the estate was rebuilt in 2009, alongside the Swallow Pavilion with ceiling murals and the golden archway at the entrance
- The China Overseas Love Foundation rented the long-vacant building and completed renovations including a distinctive lake-green roof and heart-shaped floor patterns in red and pink hues
- The center officially opened on Saturday October 17, 2026, providing services such as computer lending, printing, book borrowing, tool lending, and free Chinese medicine consultations
- The foundation will use the Little White House as a base to support elderly and children in the estate, conducting home visits and promoting community integration
- Pilot projects will also launch at Kwai Tsing Lai Yiu Estate and Kwun Tong Ko Cheung Court, with the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association supporting these initiatives
Why It Matters
This transformation demonstrates how vacant historical buildings in public housing estates can be repurposed to serve community needs, creating permanent service points for grassroots residents . The initiative aligns with the broader "Chinese Enterprises Care, Walking Together" campaign, which has previously helped families improve their living conditions through home tours and support programs, reinforcing the role of public housing as more than shelter but as community building .
This transformation demonstrates how vacant historical buildings in public housing estates can be repurposed to serve community needs, creating permanent service points for grassroots residents . The initiative aligns with the broader "Chinese Enterprises Care, Walking Together" campaign, which has previously helped families improve their living conditions through home tours and support programs, reinforcing the role of public housing as more than shelter but as community building .