Hong Kong's tiny homes are a housing horror; thanks to creative landlords
The Straits Times|November 11, 2024
Even with city's new plan to regulate subpar flats, landlords are simply not motivated to improve their properties' squalid conditions.
Magdalene Fung
Hong Kong's tiny homes are a housing horror; thanks to creative landlords

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.

Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin November 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE STRAITS TIMES DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
BACKFLIPPING THEIR WAY TO EQUALITY
The Straits Times

BACKFLIPPING THEIR WAY TO EQUALITY

The women were competing, finally, at Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah, considered the biggest and gnarliest mountain bike competition in the world.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 14, 2024
The Straits Times

Biden meets Trump at White House for transition talks

President Joe Biden hosted President-elect Donald Trump at the White House on Nov 13 in a meeting designed to demonstrate a smooth transition between administrations, even though Trump's team has yet to sign documents to start the handover process.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 14, 2024
The Straits Times

Song Jae-rim made debut with K-drama The Moon Embracing The Sun

South Korean actor Song Jae-rim, who acted in blockbuster television dramas, including The Moon Embracing The Sun (2012), died on Nov 12 at the age of 39.

time-read
1 min  |
November 14, 2024
UK writer Samantha Harvey wins with space novel Orbital
The Straits Times

UK writer Samantha Harvey wins with space novel Orbital

British writer Samantha Harvey (right) won the prestigious Booker Prize on Nov 12 for her short novel following six astronauts as they contemplate Earth from the International Space Station.

time-read
1 min  |
November 14, 2024
Singer Penny Tai has vertigo, but still game to put on concert
The Straits Times

Singer Penny Tai has vertigo, but still game to put on concert

Malaysian singer Penny Tai has said a health issue prevents her from doing big movements.

time-read
1 min  |
November 14, 2024
S'porean actor Chin Han joins cast of Netflix series Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Straits Times

S'porean actor Chin Han joins cast of Netflix series Avatar: The Last Airbender

Netflix has expanded the cast of live-action series Avatar: The Last Airbender in its second season, with Singapore actor Chin Han one of the latest eight additions.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 14, 2024
Tenor Christoph Pregardien's Schubert recital simply spellbinding
The Straits Times

Tenor Christoph Pregardien's Schubert recital simply spellbinding

CONCERT CHRISTOPH PREGARDIEN SINGS SCHUBERT'S DIE SCHONE MULLERIN

time-read
2 dak  |
November 14, 2024
Puppet masters keep niche art form alive
The Straits Times

Puppet masters keep niche art form alive

The Finger Players, Paper Monkey Theatre and puppeteer Bright Ong are taking puppets to a wider audience

time-read
4 dak  |
November 14, 2024
All We Imagine As Light tells a humane tale, Red One delivers overstuffed turkey
The Straits Times

All We Imagine As Light tells a humane tale, Red One delivers overstuffed turkey

Two Malayali nurses in Mumbai negotiate their daily working-class grind. Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans team up on a search-and-recovery operation when Santa Claus is abducted, mere days before Christmas Eve.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 14, 2024
Crime comedy takes a stab at wellness culture
The Straits Times

Crime comedy takes a stab at wellness culture

MURDER MINDFULLY Netflix ★★★★☆

time-read
2 dak  |
November 14, 2024