簡介
Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
最新
Chris Leung, Social Worker, The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society
Hi everyone, I am Chris, the Deputy Centre-in-Charge of the Sham Shui PO Community Living Room of the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon.
According to the "Long-Term Housing Strategy - Annual Progress Report 2022," the government has secured sufficient land to build public housing units, fulfilling the supply targets for the next ten years. However, as the allocation of land for housing is not evenly distributed annually, only about one-third of these units will be completed in the first five-year period.
Hong Kong nowadays is facing a housing shortage, and many citizens would choose to live in subdivided flats. According to statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department in 2021, there are approximately 108,200 subdivided units for rent in Hong Kong, with an average of 3-4 partitioned rooms per unit. The median living space per person is only 56.5 sq. ft., lower than the 75 sq. ft. standard for public housing and the 161.5 sq. ft. for the average household in Hong Kong.
Apart from limited living spaces, subdivided units are also facing several problems like heavy water and electricity charges, safety issues, etc. The poor living environment has poses impacts on residents’ physical and mental health that most of them have to bear heavy financial burden and parenting.
In view of that, the Social Welfare Department (the "SWD") launched the "Community Living Room Pilot Scheme" funded by the Community Care Fund. The Sham Shui Po Community Living Room Project locates in Fuk Wa Street, Sham Shui Po, in where subdivided housing is concentrated. The Project focuses on supporting subdivided unit households, especially those with children, in order to alleviate the difficulties they face while waiting for public housing and living in poor conditions, and provide critical support during the transition period.
As a Government, Business, and Community tripartite collaboration project, the government has appointed THE LOK SIN TONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, KOWLOON, as the approved service organization to operate the Project, providing shared living spaces including pantry, dining room, living room, study and activity room, children's play facilities, fitness facilities, and self-service laundry facilities, as well as providing community information, health talks, After-school Learning and Support Programmes, community support and referral services. The Sham Shui Po Community Living Room has commenced operation since December 2023. It will operate for a period of three years. With the support of various sectors, the Project has already recruited over 500 families to provide them with services.
In this cross-sectoral collaboration project, not only could the users enjoy additional living space, but they could also broaden their social networks, thereby improving their quality of life and increasing their sense of community belonging. The after-school study support, provided by the Community Living Room, is aimed at alleviating pressure on parents to supervise their children’s homework. The project not only relieves the onus on parents as caretakers; it also lightens their housekeeping workload. Living in a relatively small and crowded flat, most of the users do not have space at home for a washing machine and need to wash clothes by hand. Now, however, they are able to make use of laundry services in the Community Living Room, which are available at an affordable price. User can build up their social network in the Community Living Room as well.
We will continue to actively expand the scope of services, and strive to help the sub-divided unit households in the Sham Shui Po district to improve their living space, sense of community belonging, and social networks after using the community living room facilities. In the long run, to elevate the living standards and enhance community belonging of grassroots citizens, we believe that with the participation of the business sector in setting up more Community Living Rooms in districts clustered with subdivided unit households, more grassroots families will benefit.
Three community living room projects in To Kwa Wan, Hung Hom and Nam Cheong are expected to commence operations gradually to provide support for subdivided unit households, particularly those with children. These four community living rooms are expected to serve 1,750 subdivided households, encompassing a population of around 270,000 individuals each year, to provide a better living standards for the residents.
And now I have a song I'd like to dedicate to all of you listening. My song is: "陪著你走” by Rubber Band
重溫
Phoebe See , Coordinating Secretary of The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong
Hi I am Phoebe See Man-yan, the Coordinating Secretary of The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong.
Photographs and videos capture the joyous moments and giggles of family gatherings. Parents would often like to cherish every second and tell the world that their children are the prettiest and most precious thing to them.
Nowadays, "sharenting" has become a popular trend wherein parents eagerly upload photographs or videos featuring their children to various social media platforms. Regrettably, this seemingly innocuous act may cause emotional distress in some children, making them feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.
The Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong interviewed around 800 parents and 1,100 primary and secondary school students from September to November last year. The findings revealed that more than 80% of the surveyed parents shared their children's information on social media platforms, with nearly 32% sharing across multiple platforms. However, approximately 30% of parents did not obtain their children's consent before sharing photos or videos online, and nearly 40% rarely or never discussed their habits of sharing their children's information. Moreover, nearly 60% of surveyed parents believed that sharing their information would not cause their children to experience negative emotions such as embarrassment, annoyance, or anger.
In terms of children's perspectives, nearly half of those surveyed were aware that their parents shared details about their daily lives online. In some cases, parents even created separate accounts just for this purpose. The children polled generally believed that parents should obtain their consent before sharing their information online, and more than 70% preferred that their parents not share their personal information online. Furthermore, nearly 30% were annoyed, while over 20% were angry at their parents for sharing their information without their consent.
We recognize that parents often feel proud of their children's accomplishments and feel compelled to share these moments with others. However, oversharing may have negative outcome for their children. These include issues arising from the disclosure of personal information and the emergence of trust issues between parents and children, which negatively impact their relationship.
Children of different age groups all need to feel safe and loved, and starting at the age of 7, they begin to desire respect. If these developmental psychological needs are not met, children may easily become passive, withdrawn, insecure, lacking trust in others, and struggling to establish relationships. They may even exhibit rebellious behaviour and resist actions that do not show them respect.
Furthermore, "sharenting" may have unintended consequences, including the risk of jealousy and cyberbullying. Many parents see it as an adorable moment shared on social media, but it may disturb other children in the same picture as well. The worst-case scenario for the long-term consequences of "sharing" is that the children grow up only to discover that every intimate detail of their lives has been exposed online. These unerasable data are not only embarrassing but may also encourage criminals to use them for illegal activities.
The Chinese YMCA proposes using the concept of "S.U.M.", that means Support, Understanding, and Mindfulness as a guiding principle for parents. As we encourage parents to practice mindfulness and be aware of their own internal needs, we also encourage introspection when seeking attention from the others. Parents should consider their motivations for sharing online, such as validation, social connection, or bonding with their children only. After all, parents' genuine affection for their children is more important than the number of “social media likes” they received.
As technology continues to advance, it becomes crucial for parents to be mindful of the information they share about their children online. With that in mind, the Chinese YMCA would like to remind parents of a few important points. It is crucial to seek their children's consent before sharing any information about them. Also, parents should avoid exposing personal information about children, such as the full names, school names or whereabouts of their children, or uploading sensitive images of children. Always respect your children's decisions, respect their wishes if they want pictures to be removed.
Before uploading photos of your children, take a moment to consider what needs you are trying to fulfill. Is it a need for approval from others? Is it a desire to feel connected to society? Remember, as a parent, your efforts towards your children deserve self-appreciation. And your love for them doesn't require constant validation through praise from the others.
