Selina Cheng hunts for story ideas when she’s too lazy to cook or to do her laundry, or takes photos when none of the above appeal. She previously wrote for AFP Beijing and covered the Occupy movement for AP. Selina is currently studying investigative reporting at the Columbia Journalism School. See her series on Yau Ma Tei’s wholesale fruit market.

Out of 270 flats, only a handful of occupants still reside in the ruinous Hoi Hing building.
Hoi Hing Building
Developers bought out most of them and, after 2008, the building was left to rot.
Rubbles in the building
What is striking is that the bought-out flats are deliberately destroyed or filled with trash, making the building look like the set of an apocalyptic movie.
Vacated flat
The building hit the headlines for two chilling murders that shook the city, once in 1999 and then another in 2013.
Rubbles in the building
Other crimes such as rape, robbery and arson also occurred here.
Wall with graffiti
The remaining occupants still live in insecurity, probably until their eviction when the building will be demolished to give way to new high rises.
Empty corridor
Utensils left behind
Objects left behind
Sealed flat
Vacated flat
Electric board of flat occupants still in the building
Broken window
Some are still staying in the building
A broken door
Spider web in the building
Exterior of the building
Roof of the building

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Selina Cheng

Selina Cheng

Selina Cheng is a Hong Kong journalist who previously worked with HK01, Quartz and AFP Beijing. She also covered the Umbrella Movement for AP and reported for a newspaper in France. Selina has studied investigative reporting at the Columbia Journalism School.