Hong Kong’s second government-led community living room was put into service in Hung Hom on Thursday, aiming to offer extra living space and facilities to at least 400 subdivided households.

Located in Sunshine Plaza, Kowloon City District, the 3,200-square-foot facility offers shared kitchen facilities, a living room, washer and dryer facilities, and a study room.

Children of subdivided households can also enjoy homework guidance, referrals to community services, and designated reading and play zones.

During the launch ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said that users can communicate with each other and use good facilities to improve their lives, which will make users feel at home

For the next three years, the venue will be open from 11 am to 10 pm and will operate year-round except in extreme weather.

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During the launch ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said that the community living room meets the needs of grassroots families and makes users feel at home.

He believed that the facility can expand the living space for subdivided unit households and minimize the effect of their living difficulties.

He thanked the Sino Group and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation for providing the space free of rent and management fees, as well as the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council for operating the service.

“The success of multiple community living rooms is the result of the concerted efforts of the government, the business circle, and the community — the key to the current administration’s targeted poverty alleviation strategy,” Chan said.

The first community living room in Hong Kong was launched in Sham Shui Po in December. The project has already attracted over 500 subdivided households, Chan said.

Two more community lounges in Nam Cheong and To Kwa Wan will open soon. The four facilities are expected to benefit 1,750 households and 270,000 annual users.

Chan said he hopes more real estate developers and social organizations will join the project to add new community living rooms in areas with a concentration of subdivided units, such as Yau Tsim Mong and Kowloon City districts, so that more grassroots families can benefit.

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However, noting the transitional role of the community living rooms, Chan said he expected the demand for these facilities will decrease once light public housing and other public housing projects are completed and accommodate more subdivided households.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said in July that community living rooms currently are mostly located in the urban area of Kowloon. Both Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan districts have the potential to establish such facilities, he added.

Brandon Lam contributed to this story.

fangxue@chinadailyhk.com