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Sick Buildings in Hong Kong
published - 15 December 2020
updated - 21 Jan. 2021

John Herbert
Director
It seems the knowledge from the historical 2003 SARS outbreak has been largely ignored. In 2003, a
faulty drainage system design helped spread SARS vertically to different floors of
the same building at Block E, Amoy Gardens, and the residents were evacuated.
The Government reported (30-12-2020) that around 1,200 housing blocks in public
housing estates have been inspected, and defects repaired! But it took a global
pandemic before the risk to the lives of those residents was assessed.
Today we have the same situation, with the vertical spread
of infection (COVID19) on different floors of the same
building. Is it the drainage system again? Probably.
Generally, each estate comprises several tower blocks following the
same standard design. For example all the tower blocks in Richland
Gardens are essentially identical, therefore it is reasonable to think
that identical blocks will have identical issues.
Want to discuss fixing unhealthy buildings call John
Herbert 2335 9830 today!
The following buildings are suspected or have been recorded
as spreading of COVID19 within the building, because there is a
time delay between infection and detection, that means
secretions, virus, and bacteria have already spread
contamination!
21-1-2021
Multiple buildings
We have been monitoring sick buildings for more than a month, the list
keeps getting longer!
Instead of the usual practice, on 20-1-2021, thankfully CHP actually
provided the buildings names! Seven new building require mandatory
testing, as follows:
1. Sheung Hong House, Upper Ngau Tau Kok Estate
2. Man Yiu Building, 25-47 Man Wai Street, Jordan
3. 7 Waterloo Road, Yau Ma Tei
4. Block N, Kornhill, 14 Hong On Street, Kornhill
5. 571-573 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei
6. 511 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei
7. 27-31 Ning Po Stret, Jordan
From the new list, notice most of the buildings are
located in Yau Ma Tei / Jordan area.
UPDATE: Hiu Fung House, Fung Wah Estate,
Fung Ha Rd, Tai Tam Gap Road, Chai Wan
Also another update for Hiu Fung House, on 20-1-2021 one additional case
was recorded. This residential building is just one of three identical
style blocks in the Fung Wah Estate.
Also CHP reported that a few days ago eleven (11) environmental samples
were taken from the flats in the building, and three results have returned
positive from two units. Dr. Chuang said the CT values were low and the
samples that tested positive were found in toilet drains and kitchen
exhaust vents.
-------------------------------
Demonstrating vertical spread? Cross contamination from the toilet and kitchen drains?
Positive results have been found in the drains pipes and exhaust fans in
other buildings, like Richland Gardens block 6 last year. This finding is noteworthy
because it specifically states "kitchen exhaust" therefore, the COVID19 virus was airborne
and drawn into the fan from the kitchen! and the fan pushes the contaminated air
outside. And when the fan is idle, it becomes a surface (fomite) risking
contact transmission.
CHP should be reminding the public at home, and HVAC technicians to
exercise special care handling air moving equipment, particularly
exhaust fans.
17-1-2021
Hiu Fung House
Fung Wah Estate
Chai Wan
Fung Wah Estate has three similar tower blocks, typically provided the same style drainage
system in each block, if the design is defective in one block, logically it is defective in
every block.
RTHK reported that a partial evacuation has been ordered for residents of Hiu Fung House after
10 cases were reported from five units. Three of the flats end with the number "13" and are on
different floors but face the same direction. Professor Yuen Kwok-yung of the University of Hong Kong said
residents of unit 1213 fell ill first, followed by those in units 913 and 1113, where vent pipes
had been altered. Residents of units ending with "13" on or below the 12th floor will be evacuated.
18-1-2021 RTHK report
Vent Pipe ISSUE, vertical transmission likely. It is unclear from the reporting whether or not
the drainage was modified by the occupants.
Checkout this brief video animation showing how COVID19 and other bacteria could enter your home!
Yau Ma Tei District
The outbreak in Yau Ma Tei area continues and requires
residents to undergo mandatory testing, there are thought to be
about 20 different residential buildings involved! No building
names listed in the report.
15-1-2021 - evening update
Everyday thousands of people use little shortcuts through various
buildings to navigate the shortest route from A-B, just like the
buildings located at 20,22,24,26 Reclamation St, the local residents
know the shortcuts.
CHP report more cases are appearing in that area, specifically
15-27A Pitt Street, with four cases from three different flats,
requiring mandatory tests for all residents.
But insanity continues, quoted by RTHK news "Chuang urged people to go
on-line later to find out the exact buildings involved" because
apparently it is not their job.
So CHP wants everyone, millions of people, to navigate the CHP website
everyday to figure out which new buildings were involved with COVID
cases, so you have to visit the website tomorrow because the list is
always changing!
I sincerely doubt that anyone will scroll through the CHP website to find
a link to the list, download the PDF document, open the PDF document, scroll
through pages and pages of records just to identify the new buildings.
Perhaps, CHP would rather keep their arcane list and conceal the fact that we
already have 280+ buildings implicated.
RTHK report dated 15-1-2021 last assessed 15-1-2021 21:00
15-1-2021
281 buildings are listed by CHP associated with COVID19, published in
this PDF updated 14-1-2021 (20210114 version LINK)
Perhaps CHP would rather hide the number than publish the data. However, since it is organised by case, some building
names appear to be duplicated, presumably the person visited several areas in the building.
14-1-2021
Another three buildings implicated with COVID19. CHP is listening? three buildings
were named in this press conference.
Long Ping No 8
Block 1
Yuen Long
CHP reported two units have tested positive. 1 unit has 3 people, and the other unit has 1 person.
163-165 Shanghai Street
Yau Ma Tei
Kowloon
CHP reported two units have tested positive. 1 person in each unit.
Physically located close to outbreak at 20, 22, 24, 26 Reclamation St.
Yan Shek House
Shek Yam Estate
Kwai Chung
CHP reported two units have tested positive. 1 Unit has 4 people and the unit 1 person.
Dr. Chuang said an additional unit that has tested preliminary positive today.
All the residents live in units numbered 09, therefore CHP has issued quarantine order.
CHP has asked Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung to visit the building. Professor Yuen will give his findings later.
13-1-2021
Multiple Buildings suspected.
Ping Shek Estate
2 Clear Water Bay Road
Ping Shan
13-1-2021 - Waste water samples from __several__ buildings in Ping Shek Estate (located near
Choi Hung MTR station) have signs of Covid19. Mandatory testing will be required for
several buildings in the Estate.
Note the term "several" buildings, it is not limited to one building in the estate. Specifically, 1
new case from Kam Shek House, Ping Shek Estate has tested preliminary positive.
Another No Name Building
13-1-2021 - And one mystery building was added, but useful
information, such as its name, was not mentioned.
Both CHP (and RTHK) did not announce the name(s) of the building to undergo
mandatory testing, which is surely adding to the confusion.
Does anyone expect members of the public to download and search for the
additional buildings everyday? If you try, have fun, the additional buildings
are not identified in the PDF, you can guess.
20, 22, 24 and 26 Reclamation Street
Jordan
Following up on the yesterday's (12-1-2021) report, the block comprising four buildings at 20, 22, 24 and 26 Reclamation Street, Jordan
were highlighted again, pipes mentioned, perhaps inspection planned?
More Suspect Buildings Announced
12-1-2021
Four connected buildings located at 20, 22, 24 and 26 Reclamation Street, Jordan have been recorded
as spreading of COVID19 within the building, requiring compulsory testing for residents.
CHP has been adding 2 or 3 buildings a day but has not been
publishing the building names in the press release.
3 More Suspect Buildings Announced
2-1-2021
Following the list of buildings issued on 30-12-2020, the Government has
ordered the residents in three (3) additional buildings to undergo COVID19 testing,
continuing the building list:
-
44. Wah Po Mansion, Fuk Wah Street, Sham Shui Po
45. Shui Pin Wai Estate, Chuen Shui House, 17 Ma Miu Rd, Yuen Long
46. Lohas Park Block 9
43 Suspect Buildings Announced
30-12-2020
The Government ordered the residents in the following 43 buildings to undergo COVID19 testing:
-
1. Hibiscus House, Ma Tau Wai Estate, 9 Shing Tak Street, Kowloon City,Kowloon, Hong Kong
2. David Mansion, 93-103 Woosung Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong
3. Tung Hoi House, Tai Hang Tung Estate, 88 Tai Hang Tung Road, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon, Hong Kong
4. Un Mun House, Un Chau Estate, 303 Un Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
5. Fu Wen House, Fu Cheong Estate, 19 Sai Chuen Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
6. Cherry House, So Uk Estate, 380 Po On Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
7. Tao Tak House, Lei Cheng Uk Estate, 10 Fat Tseung Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
8. Scenic Court, 451-461 Shun Ning Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong
9. Block 11, Rhythm Garden, 242 Choi Hung Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
10. Chi Siu House, Choi Wan (I) Estate, 45 Clear Water Bay Road,Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
11. Sau Man House, Choi Wan (I) Estate, 45 Clear Water Bay Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
12. Kai Fai House, Choi Wan (II) Estate, 55 Clear Water Bay Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
13. Ching Yuk House, Tsz Ching Estate, 80 Tsz Wan Shan Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
14. Ching Tai House, Tsz Ching Estate, 80 Tsz Wan Shan Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
15. Tsz Fung House, Fung Tak Estate, 111 Fung Tak Road, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
16. Hong Tim House, Tsz Hong Estate, 75 Yuk Wah Street, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
17. Block H1, Telford Gardens, 33 Wai Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
18. Lee Hong House, Shun Lee Estate, 15 Lee On Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
19. Lei Lung House, Lei Yue Mun Estate, 33 Ko Chiu Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
20. Kai Yin House, Kai Yip Estate, 18 Kai Yip Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
21. Kam Shek House, Ping Shek Estate, 2 Clear Water Bay Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
22. Wong Shek House, Ping Shek Estate, 2 Clear Water Bay Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
23. Lam Shek House, Ping Shek Estate, 2 Clear Water Bay Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
24. Tin Kuen House, Shun Tin Estate, 9 Shun On Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
25. Tak Lung House, Tak Tin Estate , 223 Pik Wan Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
26. Lam Tai House, Lam Tin Estate, 7 Hing Tin Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
27. Hiu Sing House, Hiu Lai Court, 21 Hiu Kwong Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
28. Lascar Court, 3 Lok Ku Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
29. Sau Fung House, Fung Wah Estate, 4 Fung Ha Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong
30. Jet Foil Mansion, 415-421 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
31. Wah Cheong Court, Fortune Plaza, 4 On Chee Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
32. Block 2, Grandeur Terrace, 88 Tin Shui Road, Yuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong
33. Tin Yue House, Tin King Estate, 10 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong
34. Block 2, Phase 1, Tai Hing Gardens, 11 Tsun Wen Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong
35. On Lam House, Tsui Lam Estate, 11 Tsui Lam Road, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong
36. Block 4, Hong Sing Garden, 1 Po Lam Road North, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong
37. Kwong Ning House, Kwong Ming Court, 108 Po Hong Road, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong
38. Kwai Shing House, May Shing Court, 32 Mei Tin Road, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong
39. Wah Yan House, Ching Wah Court, 22 Tsing Chin Street, Tsing Yi, New Territories, Hong Kong
40. Tak Tai Building, 19-23 Tai Ha Street, Tsuen Wan, New Territories,Hong Kong
41. Wah Fung Garden, 274 Lai King Hill Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong
42. Lai Ying House, Lai Yan Court, 278 Lai King Hill Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong
43. Seung Lai House, Wah Lai Estate, 282 Lai King Hill Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong
Source: Link to the CHP official list of buildings issued 30-12-2020 in PDF format
Housing Authority Announcement
30-12-2020
Fung Chak House
Choi Wan Estate (phase II)
Ngau Chi Wan
28-12-2020
COVID19 testing of building sewerage found positive test result, on four consecutive days,
although no known case in the building is reported yet, so all residents and visitors must be tested.
The report also indicates government has been testing some building sewer systems,
such as Richland Gardens, without positive result so far.
28-12-2020 RTHK news
Lei Sang House ---- possible -----
Lei Yue Mun Estate
33 Ko Chiu Road
26-12-2020
CHP called for mandatory testing for all residents because infection has been identified in four units all on different floors of the building, but no environment factors identified.
Lotus Towers
Kwun Tong Garden Estate
Ngau Tau Kok
25-12-2020
CHP called for mandatory testing at Lotus towers because a infection identified in the fourth unit in the building. no environment issues reported so far. 25-12-2020 RTHK news
Wing Shui House
Lek Yuen Estate
Shatin
24-12-2020
CHP press conference on 24-12-2020 noted there are 3 units with residents that tested positive. Two of the three units are directly opposite one another. CHP will be handing out testing bottles for this building.
Fu Yan House -- possible --
Fu Shan Estate
Diamond Hill
update 24-12-2020
Another case has been found on a different floor, four flats are involved,
CHP has instructed all residents to undergo testing 24-12-2020 RTHK news
Although cases reported on different floors of the tower block,
no environment issues have been reported so far, therefore considered to be possible.
Ming Yan House
Shatin
update 23-12-2020
23-12-2020 - CHP checking all residents in building 23-12-2020 RTHK link
16-12-2020 - floor 32 evacuated
King Tsui Court
8 Feng Ha Road
Chai Wan
18-12-2020
There are 5 units that have been affected by Covid. Dr. Chuang said 3 of these 5 units have links. CHP will be issuing testing bottles to residents of this building.
Lung Poon Court Block A - possible --
Diamond Hill
15/12/2020
There must be a reason for CHP requiring residents of Lung Poon Court to be tested. Possible, awaiting information.
Kwai Tung House
Tung Tau Estate
Nga Tsin Wai, Wong Tai Sin
14/12/2020
Kwai Tung House is a residential building located in Tung Tau Estate,
Nga Tsin Wai in Wong Tai Sin district.
The estate has several housing different styled blocks, one
other block is the same style as Kwai Tung House.
COVID19 spread vertically to different floors (23, 24 and 29/F) in
the same building through structural issues, and some residents
have been evacuated from flats numbered 15.
RTHK news
Block 6
Richland Gardens
Kowloon Bay
10/12/2020
Richland Gardens is a residential housing estate
having around twenty two identical tower blocks
located in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
COVID19 spread vertically to residents on different floors in the
same building (block 6) through structural issues. Residents in flats
have been evacuated from Block 6. Further cases have been reported in
Block 18.
It appears that the block 6 drainage stack, mounted on the
external wall, does not have a vent/balance pipe that would prevent
pulling the traps (means sucking water out of the the U traps) that
would potentially allow contamination from the drainage stack to
enter the flat.
Since the design of these residential blocks appears to be identical,
logically every block is a sick building.
RTHK news

Ming Lai House
Choi Wan Estate Phase II
Ngau Chi Wan
14/12/2020
Ming Lai house is a residential tower block located in Phase 2
Choi Wan estate, one other block of the same type is located
nearby.
COVID19 spread vertically to residents on different floors
in the same building, testing all residents is under way CHP
reports.
14-12-2020 RTHK news
Update 16-12-2020
This building was listed as --possible--.
Now it is confirmed. On 16-12-2020 RTHK reported
the partial evacuation of flats with flat numbers ending with 33 and 34 after a government
inspection.
16-12-2020 RTHK news
Heng Tai House
Fu Heng Estate
Tai Po
15/03/2020
Heng Tai House is a residential building located in Fu Heng Estate, Tai Po.
The estate estate having several blocks of the same type.
COVID19 spread vertically to residents on different floors
in the same building through structural issues effecting
flats numbered 13.
Heng Tai House report
RTHK news

CREDIT: Apple Daily -- Heng Tai House Tai Po Evacuation
Block 8
Kwai Shing West Estate
Kwai Chung
update 16-12-2020
Block 8 is a residential building located in Kwai Shing West Estate.
This estate has 10 blocks of different sizes and types, and a
standalone wet market.
Few details of the cases are provided, one extra case was
reported on 16-12-2020.
16-12-2020 RTHK news
Hong Mei House
Cheung Hong Estate
Tsing Yi
11/02/2020
Hong Mei House is a high rise residential building located in the
Cheung Hong Estate, Tsing Yi, Kowloon.
COVID19 spread vertically to residents on different floors
in the same building, and the building was evacuated.
RTHK news
To discuss fixing unhealthy buildings call John
Herbert 2335 9830 today!
About the Author
John Herbert is a
veteran chief engineer with more than 30 years international engineering experience, educated in
the United Kingdom, he has worked in the United Kingdom and then across Asia for more than two
decades engaged by international and local companies. He is a Hong Kong Registered Energy
Assessor (REA), a BEAM Professional, and stationed in Hong Kong.