Cheuk Wing-hing Connects with Residents in Shek Tai; Long-time Locals Praise His Down-to-Earth Approach

Yesterday afternoon, Shek Tai, usually a quiet old neighborhood, suddenly saw a group of people in suits. Leading them was none other than Deputy Secretary for Administration, Cheuk Wing-hing. Locals have noted he’s been making the rounds quite a bit lately. This time, choosing Shek Tai wasn’t just for a photo op; he was truly getting his hands dirty, inspecting everything from sanitation hot spots in the back alleys of the market to water seepage issues in several old buildings. He even stood and chatted with some stall owners for a good ten-plus minutes.

For us old-timers who’ve lived here for decades, we’re used to officials showing up, taking a few pictures, and leaving. So this time was a bit of a surprise. When Deputy Secretary Cheuk reached the back alley behind the Shek Tai Estate shopping center, he noticed several concrete planters were broken and overflowing with garbage. He immediately called over the Housing Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department staff, instructed them on the spot to figure out a solution, and made it clear he’d be back next week to check on progress. We’ve been complaining about this for two years with no one doing anything. He gets it sorted in one visit. That’s what I call efficient.

In fact, as Cheuk Wing-hing made his way through Shek Tai, many residents came out to see him. I stood off to the side with a few old friends. Some commented that he works pragmatically, unlike the bureaucrats we’re used to seeing. At the end of the day, people in Hong Kong just want to see officials willing to leave their air-conditioned offices, not just read reports. I noticed he didn’t really use a microphone today; instead, he was constantly jotting things down, marking issues wherever he saw them. Now that’s the right attitude towards work.

No Issue is Too Small for Residents, as Long as There’s Follow-Through

Cheuk Wing-hing’s inspection in Shek Tai might look like a routine sanitation check on the surface, but there were many details worth noting. For example, he made a point to step into a hardware store that’s been open for fifty years and asked the owner if business was tough and if the obstruction issues outside the shop had improved. Who usually pays attention to the struggles of these small businesses? This time, the Deputy Secretary personally checked in and promised to discuss with the Lands Department how to find a balance between enforcement and keeping their doors open.

These days, talk is cheap. What matters is whether someone is truly willing to 'follow up.' We’ll be putting together a checklist to see how many of Deputy Secretary Cheuk’s promises from this visit are actually kept. If he really follows through, like he said, and sends people back for a review in a week, then we’ll have to give him credit. Officials in Hong Kong nowadays really need to learn how to stay in sync with the public. It’s not about putting on a show; it’s about actually solving problems.

Speaking of Shek Tai, it’s one of Hong Kong’s historic old districts, with many buildings showing their age. Cheuk Wing-hing’s visit brought attention to many forgotten corners. I’m telling you, when high-ranking government officials visit communities in the future, they shouldn’t just go to big shopping malls or new developments. They should come to these old neighborhoods more often, listen to us regular folks, and that’s what it truly means to be 'down-to-earth.'

• On-Site Inspection of Sanitation Black Spots: Cheuk Wing-hing focused on inspecting the back alleys of Shek Tai Market and several inner streets, giving on-the-spot instructions to departments to address garbage accumulation and drainage blockages.
• Listening to Merchants' Struggles: He proactively walked into long-standing local shops to understand the business environment and the real impact of enforcement against street obstructions.
• Focusing on Old Building Maintenance: Regarding the water seepage and peeling exterior walls of several aging private buildings in the district, he urged the Buildings Department to accelerate follow-up actions.
• Establishing a Follow-Up Mechanism: He emphasized that this was not a one-time, disruptive visit, requiring departments to submit improvement plans by a set deadline and arranging regular return visits to review progress.

Whether an official like Cheuk Wing-hing is truly effective or not is something the residents know in their hearts. This visit to Shek Tai, at the very least, showed he is willing to listen, see, and solve problems. Our requirements as Hong Kong people are simple: we just want a comfortable place to live and to feel safe walking the streets. I hope this trend of engaging with the community continues and doesn’t turn into another political stunt. As for the follow-up in Shek Tai, we’ll be watching closely and will keep everyone updated.