Mark Blocks are an early type of public housing that preceded the designs of modern public housing blocks. There are seven types of Mark blocks. It improved by each design, from Mark I as H-shaped to Mark VII as a slab block. Early blocks have small units. The height may vary by type. The conditions are poor. Early blocks have no bathroom and kitchen, making it unhabitable by modern standards. Later designs incorporated a kitchen and a bathroom.[1][2]

Mark I

Mark I blocks are the earliest resettlement blocks in Hong Kong. It is H-shaped and is usually 5-7 stories tall and has no elevators. Most are found in New Kowloon and the unit sizes are only 10-20 sq². Schools are usually held on the roofs of blocks.

List of blocks
NameNumber (Block Number)CompletionDestroyed
Shek Kip Mei Estate3-1319541975
Tai Hang Tung Estate3-1319551983
Lei Cheng Uk Estate1、2、and 101980
121982
3-9、13-191985
Tsui Ping Estate141955-19581982
12、13、15、161985
2-6、17-191986
241989
7-111990
1、21-231991
Lok Fu Estate1-12 1957 1991-1992
Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate6、7、9-141977
3、4、51987
1、2、20-251958
16、171989
15、18、191991
8（One block）1996
Chai Wan Estate17、18、201957-19591982
Jordan Valley Estate1、2、6-8、10-161959-19601991
Shek Kip Mei Estate

Modified Mark I

Modified blocks are converted Mark I blocks in the 1970s. The unit area was improved. The units still neither has bathrooms and kitchens. In the 1980s, these units finally have bathrooms and kitchens. Some of the blocks have two wings. It has an interruption to separate the blocks (for example Blocks 15 to 18 and Blocks 25 to 40 in Shek Kip Mei Estate). One of them had to be demolished, like in the case of Block 22 in Chai Wan Estate. The blocks undergo major renaming schemes, like in the case of Block 41 of Shek Kip Mei Estate, which became Mei Ho House.

Due to Kai Tak Airport being closed, the demand for land greatly increased. Due to Mark blocks being 'land wasters', the blocks are demolished between 1991-2008 and new blocks are built in its place. Block 41 is the only block standing of its kind.

List of blocks
NameNumber (Block Number)CompletionDestroyed
Shek Kip Mei Estate10-13、35、36、3819542000-2001
15-18、25-402008
41（Mei Ho House）（Still standing）
8、919562000-2001
Tai Hang Tung EstateA19552003
0
1
2
Hung Hom Estate1、219562000
3、41995
Chai Wan Estate2219581996
Jordan Valley Estate3、4、51959-1960
91991

Semi-Modified Mark I

This type is very rare in Hong Kong. They were only built from the 1980s to the 1990s. It is similar to Mark I. It can only be found in Tai Hang Tung Estate.

Mark II

Tai Wo Hau Estate

Mark II blocks appeared as early from 1959. It is mainly found in New Kowloon, Tsuen Wan, and Kwai Chung. It has the same characteristics as Mark I, with 5-7 stories, no elevator, no independent toilets and kitchens, & public toilets and bathrooms (in the middle of the block) connecting the two wings. The difference between those two is that it has three ladders than its previous counterpart. Another difference is that the four corner has large units. These units have a kitchen and toilet located inside the unit.

Only the Shek Kip Mei Estate (Block 14), Tung Tau Estate (Blocks 9 and 11) are single-story blocks.

Mark II blocks are destroyed as early as 1975. Block 21 of Lok Fu Estate is the last block to be demolished, in 1996. The design is the first to disappear completely.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mark I and II Blocks". HK Memory. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  2. ↑ "Block Types". Hong Kong Housing Authority. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
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