March 2016 – Remaking our Communities

In this issue of Varsity, we look at different aspects of “community” in Hong Kong. A community can refer to a group of people living in the same place or being educated or working together, or those who are united by common values, identities or interests.

‘Community’ was a buzz-word in the district council elections last year. Some voters look to the district council to solve problems in the community, as it’s the only local advisory body in the current political system. But other residents and even some councillors question the function of the councils.

District-based Facebook  pages are an increasingly popular way to form online communities. In the past few years, there has been a blossoming of such pages aiming to foster conversations and build connections in local districts. The question is, how can these online groups bring people together in the physical world.

Sports and recreational facilities in a district have a big impact on the quality of life of the residents and affect the cohesion of the community.We visit Tai Po, Tin Shui Wai and Sai Kung to look into claims of inadequate facilities and planning and explore whether the lack of recreational facilities prevents residents from getting more involved in the community.