All about Tin Shui Wai

(Capture by Carol)

Tin Shui Wai was planned and built without careful consideration. Besides its remote location, there is a high density of public housing estates in the area. The town is not having enough job opportunities to offer the residents and the people there just find it difficult to look for jobs outside the town according to the high transportation cost and long travelling hours. Besides, there have been a large number of immigrants coming from Mainland China in recent years and they are not able to sustain their living as most of them were not educated. All in all, the residents of Tin Shui Wai are still living under the poverty line and they always seek for the larger support from the government.

 

The sad truth is, the support of the government is far from enough by just throwing money in which it causes a more serious problem of poverty. Instead of thinking for  people in the Government Office, officials should reach the people there by person to ascertain what they want. What the residents demand for are the tools assisting them to support themselves and their families. What the residents hope is the way to break the trammels of circumstances confining them. Tin Shui Wai should not be labeled any more but their spirit of self-help and helping others should be promoted.

 

Problems in TSW

 

Tin Shui Wai is one of the four districts under study by the government’s Poverty Commission. There are a few problems that is Tin Shui Wai notorious for , which include having the largest number of unemployment, the largest number of family abuse cases per head of population, and also having the largest number of low-income groups.

According to the statistics in last December, Tin Shui Wai has 5,709 people unemployed. The job opportunities for low-skilled workers are very low in the area as well. Another survey conducted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Services Department found that each job in the northwest New Territories attracted up to 52 applicants, compared with only two candidates for each position in the city. In terms of employment, it seems that is difficult for people to find a job in Tin Shui Wai and therefore they are hard to self sustain themselves.

High rate of child abuse cases in Tin Shui Wai

 

 

As for abuse cases, Tin Shui Wai leads the way with 3,371 spouse abuses reported last year. It also recorded 93 of the 622 reported cases of child abuse throughout the SAR last year. Most of the domestic violence is because of mainland wives and children joining their families in Hong Kong and not being able to adapt to the living environment. Moreover, because of the lack of community support and weak social networks, residents in Tin Shui Wai are distanced and alone from their friends and are hard for them to get assistance in the area because of the weak social networks.

Apart from the problems of unemployment and abuse cases, a government-funded study in 2004 also showed the median income per household in Tin Shui Wai north was less than HK$8,000 compared with the average HK$15,000 for Hong Kong. This shows that Tin Shui Wai is a place with many low-income groups, they are struggling to make a living and to improve their living standard.

 

All these problems and difficulties lead to an unsustainable and problematic community of Tin Shui Wai. They can only be solved if the government or local groups give a hand.

 

 

What does Tin Shui Wai need?

 

Remote and isolated, Tin Shui Wai has long been depicted as a place for new arrivals and poverty stricken families living on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), a myriad of social problems today.

 

Fortunately, there are still kindhearted groups that giving hands to those needy in Tin Shui Wai. An uplifting message of hope comes in the hopelessness in Tin Shui Wai. To cope with the problems according to what it needs, there are three aspects to help re-building it.

 

The utmost and the foremost policy is to solve the family problems. As Tin Shui Wai is crowded with immigrants and low-income families, these are the latent causes triggering serious family problem. With an aim to deliver the message that “family problems cannot be overlooked”, there were series of events and workshops held by various communities and charitable groups. Recently there was an event organized by Roundtable Community, which was set up by a group of young people to raise awareness of social issues. Moreover, Hong Kong Student Aid Society has launched some social caring programmes, for instance the “Bringing Smiles and hopes to Tin Shui Wai” programme and the seminar entitled “How do Schoolteachers and Social Workers identify and effectively cope with Family Violence?” These are concrete practices help inculcating people with the right values towards Tin Shui Wai. At the same time, people in other districts in Hong Kong will have a better picture to recognize the problems in Tin Shui Wai.

 

What come second after the previous problems are the low unemployment rates.  To tackle this problem, some job fairs have been set up for the unemployed population in Tin Shui Wai to discover new opportunities and find new jobs to improve their living standard.

 

Is our big brother leading us the right way?

 

There are many critiques to the policies from Government on Tin Shui Wai. A responsible government, at any level, should provide what the citizen need instead of turning a blind eyes to them. Especially in this flourishing fiscal years in Hong Kong, it is as if a piece of cakes form our big factory owner to gives some candies to the poverties. Worse still, the big brother seems unwilling to share the fruits with people in Tin Shui Wai.

 

If the Government keep developing its economic in the expense of the minority and the groups in Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong will be develop in an unhealthy and imbalanced atmosphere. Till one day it collapse and find everything is too late.  Isn’t it lamentable?

 

 

 

 

Revealing the real Tin Shui Wai

Vivian Yau

April 30, 2008

 

Tin Shui Wai is a New Town located in the northwestern part of New Territories. It is one of the most rapidly developed towns in Hong Kong and home to many new immigrants.

The town has been labelled as a town of sadness or misery, due to a number of murder and family violence cases in recent years.

 

TSW labelled as “Town of misery” or “Town of sadness”   

“ The people of Tin Shui Wai are the victims of hasty town planning, insufficient infrastructure and poor governance.” said a district council member.

 Another council member, Cheung Yin-tung also commented that Tin Shui Wai was planned and built hastily, without careful consideration, leading to problems for residents.

Tin Shui Wai, having a population of 270,000, it is notorious for having the largest number of family abuse cases per head of population, with high unemployment rate, and having the largest number of low-income groups.

However, a study on the family needs of Tin Shui Wai shows that the problem was not as serious as described by the mass media. 

According to a survey done by the City University, almost 70% of the residents living in Tin Shui Wai responded that they do not have a bad relationship with their partners. This shows that the family violence problem was not that serious in the district. 

Almost 70% of the residents also mentioned that they were not afraid of living in Tin Shui Wai and when they encountered difficulties and problems they will ask for help. 

Though the problems in Tin Shui Wai is not as serious as we have thought of, it still need care and attention from the government and the public.

The government has reviewed and tried to improve family services in Tin Shui Wai in recent years. The Social Welfare Department has also set up a Family and Child Protective Services Unit in the district.

 

Joy for “Town of Sadness” besides the social concern

Carol Chan
April 18, 2008

 

Tin Shui Wai, the latest satellite town in Hong Kong, being labeled as “The city of sadness” when numerous of serious social and family problems occurred. High rate of unemployment, suicides and child abuse, are these problems really make this place become miserable?

 

 

Mrs Chan and her little son played in the playground of Tin Fu Court. (Captured by Carol)

 

“I love Tin Shui Wai! It’s our home.” Chan Siu-Ping, a ten years old girl who has been living in Tin Shui Wai for five years after she immigrated to Hong Kong with her parents.

 

In this new town, most of the families are new immigrants from the mainland China. Similar to the case of the Chan’s family, most of them are in the low income group and bearing high expenses in daily life. Because of their low income, many of the residents tend to stay in Tin Shui Wai, and many of them are forced to live in social isolation.

 

“We won’t set foot in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island, the transportation cost is too high, we can’t afford it.” Mrs. Chan said.

 

Initially, many new immigrated families, including the Chan’s, are looking forward to their new life in Tin Shui Wai. However, after the bad news being reported, frustration and tension started to build-up in their minds.

 

“My neighbours always worried about the negative news from the media would affect other Hong Kong people’s attitudes towards them, but I think they are over anxious.” Mrs. Chan said calmly.

 

From the cases which followed by the Social Welfare Department last year, there is sometimes a strain of marital discord with hostility and anger being vented against the children.

 

“I have heard about the problem of child abuse,” Mrs. Chan continued. “It is a very common phenomenon in a society, not only in Tin Shui Wai, but also in other parts of Hong Kong.”

 

The government promised to increase the number of mental health experts in the area and offer certain among of subsidies to the residents. Further planning is in progress and most of the Tin Shui Wai residents wish to benefit in the economic growth. They hope that the government can put more affords to improve their living standard in the coming future.

 

Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai

 

Tin Shui Wai is still a lovely place besides of social problems, at least the Chan’s family agreed with this. All the residents are struggling for a better life based on the limited resources. They enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful scenery in the Hong Kong Wetland Park and treasure the time with their families. Improve the living standard and reduce the influence of the social problems happened before is the main duty of the government at this moment.

 

“I don’t have money to buy Siu-Ping what she wants, but the most important thing is, we are living happily together in our place.” Mrs. Chan said and smiled in satisfaction.

 

 

Women and unemployment misgiving in Tin Shui Wai call for public attention

Gloria Lai

April 16  2008

 

 

Tin Shui Wai has long been labeled as a” tragic city of sorrows”. Unfortunate news from the new town Tin Shui Wai is widely publicized in succession over the past few months. More anxieties are about the problems faced by women and the unemployment rate, which post threat to the society in Tin Shui Wai.

 

As many of the social problems exacerbated, unemployment is another concerning issue. While the other citizens are enjoying the fruitful surplus from economic boom in Hong Kong, people in Tin Shi Wai end up with nothing but facing increasing pressure from society.

 

The groups of low-skilled workers in Tin Shui Wai have a slim chance of getting a promotion or finding a new job. For those who have low education standard, fear of losing their jobs.

 

People in Tin Shui Wai demonstrated for the unemployment

 

“ I can barely find a job as a delivery staff in a restaurant,” claimed Mr. Pang, a 58 year-old man who finished school when he was in Primary 3.

He said that many residents had thought the Wetland Park would bring more jobs, but only a few residents were hired as security guards.

 

“I feel disappointed to the Government, it do not help us to walk out from the darkness,” demanding the officials to do more than the whitewash, he hopes that Government is not just paying lip service in this case.                             

Legislators and residents of Tin Shui Wai have urged the government to create more work in the economically depressed area , one of them is Tin Shui Wai.

 

The survey, conducted by the Concerning CSSA Review Alliance and a Tin Shui Wai residents’ group, found that 58 per cent of the 72 respondents who were rejected outright at the recruitment drive said the jobs advertised were too remote, while 48 per cent said there had been too few jobs available.

 

It is revealed that, from Census and Statistic Department, low-income families accounted for a historic high of 20.1 per cent (1.3 million) of the total population in Tin Shui Wai in 2006, which may be the root of the tragedies of women living there.  

 

Family disputes can be a deadly impact for women in Tin Shui Wai.

 

Ngo, a 39 year-old woman, ekes out her family life by simply collecting and selling the paper boxes. She tried to seek help yet the only thing she found is Government negligence.

 

“Even if there are social workers, there is a shortage of resources; why doesn’t the Government allot appropriate funds for the needy like us. Even a $50-dollar transportation ticket is enough for us to alleviate the hardship,”

 

According to the social worker, Mr. Wong, from Social Welfare Department, they don’t have sufficient resources from the Government.  He estimated that more funds is needed for the core service, the Family and Child Welfare Services, in order to cope with the Tin Shui Wai problem.

 

She also sought help from the Hong Kong Federation of Women’s Centre. However, the problems still cannot be solved effectively.

 

“I have three sons; the eldest is 10 years old. I have no choice but take this burden,” Ngo said. A big question mark emerged as she did not mention her husband.

 

Ngo, seeks help from Social Welfare Department

 

“He went to mainland on weekends and I know he hung out with another woman, there is no love between us” said Ngo with her sobbing voice, “We even seldom talk to each other. Sometimes, I was hit by him when he was in a bad mood.” She continued.

 

People lack communication with their spouse or children after a long day at work. This affects the family life,which leads to deeper concerns like domestic violence or homicide.

 

Her friend, Mrs. Wong voiced out her opinions to the reporter.

 

“Many of the housewives hide in the kitchen and cried.  The dignity of men is precious, what about we women? We work hard for the whole day, worse still, treated by violence. But you know what, without we housewives, Tin Shui Wai will not be what it is today.”Mrs. Wong aired her grievances.

 

The problem of Tin Shui Wai has nothing to do with the residents there. It is a man-made mistake through poor planning and failure of policies since the inception of this new town 15 years ago. The government is not unaware of the problem. Risking the community in Tin Shui Wai, numerous of social problems are still exist and some of them will explode at anytime.

 

Main complaints from the citizens in Tin Shui Wai were a lack of government resources, employment opportunities, public spaces and space for developing economic activities.

 

Meanwhile, people thirst for solutions to get rid of this hazardous boom and avert the tragedies.

Tracing the source of sadness

The origin of problems in Tin Shui Wai

Jackal Chan

April 30, 2008

 
The map of Tin Shui Wai

The scenes of Tin Shui Wai (MTR West Railway Station and Tin Shui Wai Park)

 

 Have you ever imagined what will a densely populated town be when the old folks have no place to socialize or the children do not have a playground to have fun? As for the past few years, what we heard about Tin Shui Wai were all about the cases of unemployment, domestic violence, mental illness, or suicides. Since the Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Carrie Lam, labelled Tin Shui Wai as “The City of Misery” in July 2006, the senses of “sadness” and “hopeless” have been exaggerated. It is ironic that we are having these in a developed society that attracts some of the highest international rankings in economic freedom and human development and claims to be the world city of Asia.

 

Tin Shui Wai was planned and built without careful consideration. Besides its remote location, there is a high density of public housing estates in the area. The high population density of the town should be supported by quantitative and qualitative job opportunities or else they can’t survive. The town is not having enough job opportunities to offer the residents and the people there just find it difficult to look for jobs outside the town according to the high transportation cost and long travelling hours. All in all, it is not easy for them to retain their living without the support of the government. What the government did so far was still far from enough.

 

The government’s policy of simply throwing money to a larger problem of poverty desperately needed reviewing. Instead of thinking for the people in the Government Office, officials should reach the people there by person to ascertain what they want. According to the interview with some of the residents in Tin Shui Wai, they never ask for charity but the tools assisting them to support themselves and their families. They may be poor now but they are not without the will to excel. They may be dependent on public assistance now but they possess the power to break the trammels of circumstances confining them. Instead of labeling Tin Shui Wai, the spirit of self-help and helping others should be promoted.

 

In recent years, there had been a large number of immigrants coming from Mainland China. Most of them didn’t receive much education and they are still living under the poverty line at the current stage. The sad truth is, although poverty is a very tragic problem to the ones affected, it is not that big of a problem to a community as a whole as long as it’s kept to a small percentage only. Most of the people in Hong Kong are living comfortably in other regions and not many of them will care the ones in Tin Shui Wai that they don’t know.

 

Although the domestic violence or tragedies there have been widely reported by the media in Hong Kong for a few years already, it seems that the story does not come to an end. As in the year of 2004, a mainland woman her twin daughters were stabbed to death by her husband who then fatally wounded himself. Two years later, a 36-year-old woman suffering from mental illness bound the hands and feet of her 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, and threw them out of a window in their 24th floor flat at Yiu Fung House, finally jumped to her death.

The Event “Tin Shui Wai Bicycle Rally” on November 2007

In order to urge the government for more resources and support services, “Tin Shui Wai Bicycle Rally” was organized. The residents of Tin Shui Wai took the initiatives to reflect the situation and express their feelings directly to the government. On November, 2007, numerous residents rallied outside government headquarters to push for more aid and reform for the area. Many of them further demanded the government to create new hospitals, provide more job opportunities, and increase police enforcement in the town. Single parents and children, new immigrants and mental patients are seeking more social services such as the help from the social workers, the extension of travel subsidies and also the longer opening hours of the child-care centers and hotlines.

 

The Civic Party’s candidate for the Chief Executive election in 2007, Mr Alan Leong said that Tin Shui Wai residents should be given with more opportunities as they bear witness to the stamina, perseverance and optimism shared by many others in Hong Kong. The key to eliminate the sadness from Tin Shui Wai is the emphasis on mutual communications between the government and residents. Sooner or later, a cohesive, compassionate and self-fulfilling community can also be built in Tin Shui Wai.