Housing Society Corporate Video

A black-and-white photo of a mid-20th-century apartment building with balconies, trees, and people outside. Overlaid text in Chinese and “1952” highlights this as Hong Kong’s first public rental housing.
A tall pink and white apartment building with many balconies and windows stands among hills. Large Chinese characters are displayed on the building, and Chinese text appears along the bottom of the image.
Several mid-rise residential buildings with Chinese labels above them: 對面海邨 (Toi Min Hoi Estate), 翠塘花園 (Tsui Tong Garden), 沙頭角邨 (Sha Tau Kok Estate). Subtitles in Chinese are at the bottom.
A cityscape with tall residential buildings, overlaid with colorful logos for building maintenance and assessment schemes in Chinese and English. Chinese subtitles appear at the bottom of the image.
A stone wall sign with a green clover logo reads "Greenview Villa" in English and Chinese. Chinese text boxes and subtitles are overlaid on the image. Shrubs and buildings are visible in the background.
A group of adults and children sit together on a sofa in a living room, engaged in conversation. A flower basket sits on a table nearby. Chinese subtitles appear at the bottom of the image.
A group of people in construction helmets and suits stand in front of a building site, holding a banner that reads "Project Development of Greenhill Villa." Construction signs and Chinese text are visible in the background.
A simplified yellow map of Hong Kong with five blue speech bubbles labeling regions in Chinese: 屯門「翠鳴臺」, 青衣「綠悠雅苑」, 沙田「綠怡雅苑」, and 將軍澳「翠嶺峰」.
A modern lobby with sofas, a glass coffee table, and bulletin boards on the wall. Chinese text is visible on the wall and as subtitles at the bottom of the image. The space appears bright and welcoming.
Aerial view of Hong Kong’s skyline with tall skyscrapers along the waterfront and green mountains in the background. Chinese subtitles appear at the bottom of the image.
Three older adults sit together indoors, smiling and laughing. They all wear matching purple shirts with a graphic and red buttons, and one person wears a blue cap. The atmosphere appears friendly and joyful.
Three men in suits stand together, smiling, with their hands on a podium at the Opening Ceremony of the HKHS Exhibition Centre on December 11, 2018. The Hong Kong Housing Society logo is displayed in the background.
A woman in a denim jacket stands and smiles outside a high-rise residential building, with more tall buildings in the background. Chinese text appears at the bottom of the image.
A young girl in a blue dress stands smiling in front of colorful apartment buildings on a sunny day. Chinese text appears at the bottom of the image. Tall skyscrapers are visible in the background.
A woman smiles while standing in a parking lot, with tall residential buildings behind her under a clear sky. Chinese subtitles appear at the bottom of the image.
A man in a suit stands smiling in front of tall apartment buildings in an urban setting. There is a palm tree beside him. Chinese subtitles appear at the bottom of the image.
A collage of ten smiling people of different ages and professions, standing in separate frames. In the center, there is Chinese text that reads "創宜居・活社區" above smaller text at the bottom.
The logo of Hong Kong Housing Society features a red circle with a white geometric "H" design, next to the text "HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY" and its Chinese translation below.

Client: Hong Kong Housing Society
Duration: 08:24
Language: English/Cantonese/Putonghua
Video Ownership: The Client
Video Production House: Visual Media Limited

Video Objective

In the ever-changing city of Hong Kong, housing is more than just a place to live—it’s a witness to history. Since its establishment in 1948, the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) has played a pivotal role. As Hong Kong’s first non-governmental housing organization, it has embraced the mission of being a “Housing Laboratory”, marking one significant milestone after another in the city’s housing development history.

This film offers an in-depth look at the HKHS’s journey of over 70 years. From pioneering low-cost rental housing to innovative senior housing, and from urban renewal to sustainable development, the film aims to show the public how the HKHS has evolved with the times. Through its diverse housing initiatives, the organization has fulfilled its mission to “Provide Quality Homes for the Community” and worked towards its vision of “Create Homes · Revive Communities”.

Challenges in Creating the Video

  1. How can we organize a complex historical narrative? The history of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) is like a weighty book. It spans a multitude of areas, from the establishment of the first “Rental Estate”, Sheung Li Uk, in 1952, to recent initiatives like “Transitional Housing” and the “Flat for Flat Pilot Scheme for Elderly Owners”. Simply listing these events chronologically could overwhelm the audience with too much information, making it hard for them to digest.
  2. How can we combine serious data with a human touch? The work of the HKHS is inherently tied to numbers: housing for tens of thousands of families, the construction of dozens of rental estates, and data on the implementation of various schemes. However, presenting only these cold figures makes it difficult for the audience to connect emotionally. We want the video to be more than just an annual report; we want it to be a story filled with human warmth.

Solutions

  1. Using a Thematic Narrative Approach: To solve this problem, we’ve moved away from a single chronological timeline and adopted a thematic narrative structure instead. The film will organize the Housing Society’s contributions into four core themes: “Meeting Basic Housing Needs”, “Helping Citizens Achieve Homeownership”, “Addressing the Challenges of an Aging Population”, and “Embracing the Mission of Sustainable Social Development”. Each section will use specific project examples—such as “Sheung Li Uk”, “the Senior Citizen Residence Scheme”, and “City Revitalisation”—to vividly illustrate the Housing Society’s role and contributions throughout different periods. This structure not only makes the film’s narrative clear but also highlights the breadth and depth of the organization’s work.
  2. Focusing on “People” Stories: To inject a human touch, we decided to shift the focus from broad policies to micro-level personal stories. In addition to reviewing the Housing Society’s history, the film will delve into the lives of residents, interviewing people from different generations who have lived in their properties. Through their oral histories, we will see how the Housing Society changed their lives, providing them with a stable home and helping them build community connections. This “seeing the big picture through small details” storytelling approach will make the film more engaging and help the audience truly understand the Housing Society’s mission of “Provide Quality Homes for the Community”.

Contributions

  1. Preservation of History: Through its systematic approach, the film creates a valuable visual record of Hong Kong’s housing development. It allows younger generations to understand the origins of Hong Kong’s housing and recognize the pioneering role the Housing Society has played.
  2. Promotion of Core Ideals: The video effectively communicates the Housing Society’s core mission of “Provide Quality Homes for the Community”. It not only demonstrates how the organization has addressed social issues through concrete actions but also inspires public thought on the importance of housing in social development.
  3. Community Connection: By presenting the authentic stories of various residents, the film helps strengthen community cohesion. It encourages residents to participate and fosters harmonious and inclusive neighborly relations, particularly promoting the idea of “Promoting Intergenerational Harmony”.
  4. Inspiration for Innovation: The film showcases the Housing Society’s innovative practices in areas like green building and elderly services, providing a valuable case study for the industry. This helps to drive sustainable development for the entire sector.

From the “Sheung Li Uk” in Sham Shui Po to future projects in Kai Tak and Anderson Road, every step the Housing Society takes is closely connected to the people of Hong Kong. This film is a tribute to this promise of over 70 years and a passionate look forward to the Housing Society’s vision of “Create Homes · Revive Communities”.

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