From the 60s, large numbers of mainlanders settled in Hong Kong, and by the 80s squatter population reached a record high of 600,000. These squatter areas were prone to many disasters such as typhoons, landslides (an unforgettable event would be the tragedy at Lam Tin Village, Kwun Tong) and fire (one of the most famous incident was the Shek Kip Mei Estate fire).
In light of this, the government did their best to demolish squatters and relocate the residents in more livable housing, and huge effort is still being paid for that up till now. For instance, those who lost their homes during the Shek Kip Mei Estate fire was relocated in Shek Kip Mei Estate (the first public housing estate in Hong Kong) on new Tai Po road.
Nowadays, very few of the younger generation of Hong Kongers (who grew up in the "green house") actually know what it is like in the squatters. Hence, I am posting this after having visited one a week ago. Try to feel the atmosphere of this mosquito-plagued squatter.
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