Area 15 West

“Deep drainage,” a local whispers, pointing towards Area 15 West. “That’s the meaning of ‘Shenzhen’.” We stand at the edge of Area 15 West, a public housing estate in Fanling North. It’s a far cry from the gleaming skyscrapers of Shenzhen’s financial center, but its story is intertwined with the city’s meteoric rise. Area 15 West, like much of Hong Kong, experienced a massive influx of refugees from mainland China during the tumultuous decades leading up to Shenzhen’s designation as a Special Economic Zone. From the 1950s to the late 1970s, families fleeing upheaval sought refuge in Hong Kong, with estimates of up to 560,000 residing in Bao’an County, the area that became Shenzhen. Area 15 West, with its “public housing” designation, likely provided shelter for some of these families. The whispers of “deep drainage” take on a new meaning when you consider the waves of migration that shaped both Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Shenzhen’s explosive growth pulled migrants from all over China, seeking work and opportunity in the booming tech and finance industries. This growth transformed Shenzhen from a small village to a global metropolis in just a few decades. Area 15 West represents a quieter narrative, a reminder of the families who sought refuge and stability amidst this rapid transformation. As we gaze at Area 15 West today, it serves as a poignant counterpoint to Shenzhen’s “speed.” It represents the human stories, the need for housing and stability, that underpin the grand narratives of economic growth. It is a reminder that even in a city known for its relentless pace, there is a place for quiet resilience, for the deep drainage of human lives flowing alongside the currents of change.