When I first moved to Hong Kong from Singapore over a decade ago, I lived in a 9 sq m subdivided flat in the heart of the commercial district of Wan Chai.
My home, with a floor space of roughly 2 1/2 Ikea king-size beds, cost HK$7,350 (S$1,250) in rent each month.
It had a bathroom and small windows that opened out onto the narrow, smelly alley below and looked into the stairwell of the building, where a topless beer-bellied middle-aged man would sometimes stand smoking, peering into my flat.
At first, the novelty of living like a local in a Hong Kong shoebox apartment kept me going.
I lived the minimalist life, cleaned and decluttered constantly, stored most of my belongings in stacked plastic boxes, cooked using only a small rice cooker or microwave, and tolerated my neighbour's deafening snores that I could hear through the door at night.
But eventually, the cramped space, dust balls, damp air and mouldy walls got to me.
Showers in winter were simply dreadful as the small storage heater supplied only a minute of hot water at most before needing another five minutes to reboil.
Fresh laundry had to be hung up all around the flat and would take forever to dry; there was no space for a dehumidifier.
A silverfish infestation was the last straw.
Two years into my experiment, I moved out in a hurry.
Today, that subdivided flat would be considered an acceptable home under Chief Executive John Lee's new rules to regulate Hong Kong's subpar housing.
In one of the top 10 wealthiest cities in the world, more than 215,000 people live in homes of appalling conditions - and they look set to continue doing so despite fresh regulations.
The new rules, announced at Mr Lee's annual policy address in mid-October, require landlords to ensure subdivided flats are at least 8 sq m - a floor space of two Ikea king-size beds - and have a toilet and a window.
Denne historien er fra November 11, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 11, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
K-pop star Psy's home temporarily seized due to penalty arrears
Singer Psy recently had his luxury home in Seoul temporarily seized by the authorities after he failed to pay an administrative penalty imposed by the district office, local media outlets reported on Nov 25.
BTS' Jimin and Jung Kook face off at Billboard Music Awards
K-pop supergroup BTS members Jimin and Jung Kook will face off at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), which will take place on Dec 12.
Stefanie Sun fails to nab Taipei Arena for 2025 world tour
It has been a decade since homegrown Mandopop star Stefanie Sun last headlined her own tour, so when her upcoming world tour Aut Nihilo Sun Yanzi In Concert was announced recently, fans went into a frenzy.
Society is sick': Actor Ryan Lian after netizens laugh at him for being attacked
Local actor Ryan Lian has hit back at netizens who were unkind to him after learning that he was injured in a recent knife attack.
Binge-worthy K-variety series is a celebration of tenacity and sisterhood
Iron Girls follows the trials and triumphs of four award-winning South Korean actresses who signed up for the toughest roles of their lives – participants of the 2024 World Triathlon Cup in Tongyeong.
Problemista's whimsy is wearying, Blitz a conventional WWII drama
Alejandro (Julio Torres) from El Salvador is an aspiring toy designer in New York City. With time running out on his American work visa, he becomes personal assistant to an erratic art critic (Tilda Swinton) as his only hope for a sponsored residency.
Moana 2 charts familiar waters, but stays buoyant
Disney's second voyage with Moana dives deeper into Pacific culture
Shrek director tackles animation taboo in Netflix fairy tale Spellbound
Animated films tackling parent separation and divorce are few and far between.
New head hopes to offer alternative to 'junk food'
General manager of SGIFF Jeremy Chua courts young viewers and social media
Music kings take back their crowns
Must-see MV: G-Dragon – 2024 Mama performance medley