Emperor International Holdings Limited ("Emperor International") and the charity organisation New Home Association ("NHA") joined hands in launching the "ALL AS ONE Co-living Scheme". Emperor International licenses a total of 22 apartment units of its property situated at Ko Shing Building, 78-80 Queen Road West, Sheung Wan for a term of one year to NHA, who performs as an operator at a nominal rent of $1. NHA then provide temporary housing to people having an urgent need for housing or having queued for Public Rental Housing (RPH) for no less than 3 years, especially to socially disadvantaged groups such as ethnic minorities and single-parent families to provide them transitional residence that combined with ideas of Co-living and Cohesion. Besides, to improve households’ living condition and quality of life, the scheme emphasises social integration and encourage households to contribute their talents to society through practices of sharing and mutual support. 

The apartment units, which range in size from 340 to 390 square feet and cost HK $5,700 per unit per month, can be shared by two families or three single persons of the same sex and ethnicity. To speed up the implementation of the scheme, Emperor International is also responsible for coordinating renovation works in all units to provide a comfortable and livable environment for those in need. Meanwhile, the scheme has gained support from Ulferts International Limited, a subsidiary of Emperor Group is sponsoring a set of basic furniture in all units, including bed, mattress, wardrobe, and dining table and chair, which allows families or people in need to move in immediately and reduce their expenses. 

Recently, together with NHA, Emperor Foundation held a meaningful volunteer event in which more than 20 volunteers from both sides were invited to the property to clean and paint the renovated units and public area to bring a refreshing environment to households and once again embodying the spirit of cohesion. 

Emperor International, the organiser, has licensed its properties that pending reconstruction and development for the first time as a temporary transitional residence. Mr. Alex Yeung, Executive Director of Emperor International said “As a developer, Emperor International has been actively engaged in property investments and developments over the years, including the acquisition of premises for redevelopment. Also, to respond to the Government’s appeal, through the scheme, we hope to make good use of properties awaiting redevelopment and turn that into transitional residence for people in need to alleviate their stress on the housing issue, to give back to society. Together with our partner NHA’s sophisticated expertise and resources in serving underprivileged groups, we believe that the scheme will provide adequate and timely assistance to families and persons in need. “Mr. Wong Chung, Executive Director of New Home Association which performs as operator and one of the organisers said “Our service objects include Subdivided Unit Household and the pandemic brought repercussions on the earnings and employment prospects for the grassroots. Moreover, rental expenditure accounted for about 40 to 50% of some families’ total income, thereby increasing their financial burden. NHA joins hand with Emperor International in launching the Scheme in time to provide relief to grassroots families and persons on the rental issue by advocating the co-living concept and providing housing at below-market rentals, as well as improving their living quality through sharing and social cohesion. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Emperor International for its support and committed efforts in the smooth implementation of the Scheme.”

Housing demand is high in Hong Kong, grassroots families have to live in a severe environment while facing rental stress. The stress is even greater for parents with children, and the lack of living space could be seen significantly correlated with the physical and mental development of children, which is a major problem beyond the maintenance of life. Given this, the "All as One Housing Scheme” advocates a concept of "co-living and cohesion", and pursues a living mode of sharing, co-living, and mutual assistance. For example, two single-parent families will be paired up to live together in a two-bedroom unit, sharing the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and other facilities. The project aims to make good use of the common space by living with other families and taking care of each other, such as helping neighbours to take care of their children, to create a small community so as to free up more women or single parents to work outside the home and rejoin the society, thereby increasing the opportunities for upward social mobility. By sharing the rent, to relieve the economic pressure at the same time.

Mr. Alex Yeung added, "In future, the Group hopes to participate in more like-kind projects, to make full use of our resource, and contribute to the community by adhering to the tenet of "From the Community, To the Community", to help more people at the grassroots level and disadvantaged groups in need and provide them with timely assistance."

Highlights of “ALL AS ONE Co-living Scheme”: 

• Setting up public service team and reward programme

Under the guidance of the New Home Association’s social workers, residents will participate in organising, managing, and carrying out their works around housing and community building, including cleaning and management of common areas, the establishment of community, social activities, etc. So as to increase participation of residents in community formation and the practice of mutual assistance, a reward program is created for their contribution to neighbourhoods, good deeds such as taking care of child next door and maintenance of public equipment will be entitled to point earning and redemption of certain rewards. 

• Setting up "Shared Leisure Space"

Inspired by the co-working space business of the Group, Emperor International has donated an additional unit and turned it into a shared space with a laundry room, dining and leisure area, including corners of books and games, and other entertainment devices for residents to enjoy and to organise different activities for relationship building so as to create a sense of belonging to the community. At the same time, we hope to provide a comfortable and healthy space for children from grassroots families. Emperor Foundation has also held a campaign under the Scheme to call for colleagues’ donations. Through enthusiastic responses and generous donations from various departments and business units, the shared space is filled with necessities and supplies. 

Applications for the Scheme are now open. Please visit the website for more details: https://l.ead.me/bbm6Gt