In brief
The new policy will potentially displace hundreds of thousands as it aims to redefine living conditions in the city amid ongoing housing crisis.
As she inspected her cramped living quarters in Hong Kong's Kwun Tong district, Liu Lanhua reflected on how her narrow kitchen also served as the family’s only bathroom. Everyday items hung precariously over the toilet, and her pet turtles had claimed a basin under the fridge as their home. Liu and her daughter are among approximately 220,000 residents living in subdivided apartments—housing arrangements emblematic of Hong Kong’s severe income inequality. However, recent government mandates may bring drastic changes to their living situations.Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, recently announced plans to impose minimum size and fixture requirements for subdivided homes. This measure aims to phase out over 30,000 of the smallest such units, leaving many vulnerable families uncertain about their future. Liu lamented the lack of space that forced her to choose between basic utilities and comfort, stating, “If we had money, these would be in separate rooms.”The push to eliminate subdivided residences aligns with directives from Beijing, which sees the city's housing crisis as a catalyst for unrest that peaked in 2019. With a growing number of residents facing eviction or steep rent increases, anxious families are waiting to see how the government's housing policies will unfold. As the city grapples with its housing crisis, the stakes are high for those living in vulnerable conditions, caught in the crossfire of political pressures and economic realities.
