In brief
As authorities move to regulate tiny homes, many families face uncertainty over increased rents or possible eviction.
Hong Kong, November 5, 2024 - Liu Lanhua, a mother living in a cramped subdivided apartment in Kwun Tong, is struggling to accept the reality of her living conditions. In her home, the kitchen serves dual purposes, also functioning as the only bathroom for Liu and her 12-year-old daughter. They are among the 220,000 residents in Hong Kong relying on these diminutive living spaces, emblematic of the region's stark income disparities. Recently, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, announced measures aimed at regulating the size and facilities of such cramped apartments, an action expected to phase out over 30,000 of the smallest subdivided homes. In Liu's case, her apartment lacks basic amenities like a proper sink, leading to hazardous living situations—turtles in a basin beneath the refrigerator exemplifying the lack of space and options. The Hong Kong government, responding to pressures from Beijing to eliminate these tiny homes by 2049—seen as contributing to the unrest during the protests of 2019—has sparked fears among those living in precarious housing situations. "If we had money, these would be in separate rooms," Liu remarked, highlighting the dire conditions she faces, where kitchen appliances and personal hygiene areas mingle in a small, cluttered environment.With the new regulations looming, many families are left worrying about the implications for their housing stability, as increased regulations may result in rent hikes or even eviction for the most vulnerable, amid an already critical housing shortage.
