Hong Kong’s old buildings are crumbling, but flat owners balk at repair fees, prompting calls for government action on ‘ticking time bombs’

Hong Kong’s ageing buildings are posing safety risks and have become a public concern. In the first of a two-part series, Edith Lin looks at the major problem of building decay and ways to tackle difficulties faced by owners.

Peter Leung* owns a flat in one of Hong Kong’s oldest areas in Eastern district, and is worried about a spike of incidents over the past two months when pieces of concrete fell off buildings.