A glimpse inside Hong Kong’s notorious subdivided homes

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A former subdivided flat in Tai Kok Tsui has been turned into a so-called Trapped Experience Centre, an exhibition replicating Hong Kong’s notorious subdivided housing units. The rooms were modelled after real-life homes of subdivided-flat tenants. The centre also hires homeless people and subdivided flat residents as tour guides, to share their experiences of living in Hong Kong’s cubicle homes.

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[Luminousplayer]

making a room on top of a shared bathroom is borderline criminal

[vivianledonghaeeify]

by looking at their living conditions, I start to appreciate my life right now.

[avahsieh]

The housing condition is abhorrent and unthinkable.
My heart breaks for the elderly who has to struggle and suffer like this.

[Spoopball]

This is literally breaking my heart.
7 families had to use one kitchen AND 1 bathroom.

[SL-lzjr]

I grew up in a single family dwelling in the US with my relatives. At its peak we shared our house with up to 11 people so in similar ways it felt like a subdivided flat. But there’s a huge difference. In a house with detached walls, there are windows everywhere and backyard space for fresh air. It was not fun sharing a bedroom with my 2 aunts and younger sister. It was not fun not having a living room or dining room (no common space to gather except in the kitchen), but it felt so spacious compared to these coffins. Those attic rooms really are coffins.

[FoNgThOnG]

That attic room above the toilet should be listed as a torture room.

[tywakorn]

Putting aside judgmental comments...I really appreciate this recreation of the display unit, which gives so much insights and awareness...

[katerinafeiglova]

This is so sad. When I was young, I lived in what we considered a small apartment (around 35m2) with my mum, I had my own room and my mum slept in the living room. I considered myself unlucky for living in such a small space. Pity I hadn't seen this document back than, it would make me more thankful for the living space we had.

[bongky]

It's really insane how HK government even allowed this to happen.

[YoudeservetheBest]

The housing issue has always been a lifelong struggle for the poor in Hong Kong. As land is such a commodity here. It's not unusual for a luxury estate to be situated right next to government rented flats and only separated by a walkway. I mocked that as "a bridge too far"!. For one to apply for a government (public) flat, the waiting time can be at least 5 to 8 years. Those who are still waiting to move into a public flat may only afford to rent one of these, mainly illegally operated, subdivided flats. The gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen in this city, and personally, I don't think this story will ever end!

[eonadgm]

7 households shared 1 kitchen and 1 bathroom?! That's insane. I can't even arange myself with my one roommate without getting in each others way.
I feel really sorry for those people. The goverment should be fixing this issue asap and not in 20 years. Just looking at those attic rooms makes me feel claustrophobic.

[swirlybun]

This left my speechless. My heart goes out for everyone living like this.

[jamesthornton]

Shame on you Hong Kong government 😢how dare you treat poor people like animals!

[allergictohumansnotanimals]

The prices are insane for such an atrocity

[rosemangofairy]

This is due to powerful political powers in HK made up of real estate capitalist tycoons. Because land is small and scarce, they usually give more priorities to ultra wealthy people who can pay much more. Meanwhile the poor are given essentially "the scraps"- which is why we see so many photos of cramped up, almost inhumane, living spaces there. There is an incredible amount of wealth inequality in HK. I hope the HK people can stand up to a better quality of life 🙏🏻

[lionelwong]

Hong Kong has serious housing problems.
In contrast Singapore which is smaller than Hong Kong, does not have such housing problems. There's adequate comfortable housing for most Singaporeans.
Hong Kong should seriously look into ways of how to solve the pressing housing problems for these poor people.

[foxycon]

I'd rather not having children than letting my kid staying at such place..

[MoistCrumpet]

I sometimes like to watch videos about these homes just to make me feel more grateful for my living conditions.

[alexkollammap]

I live in a pretty ordinary 2 storeyed house in a third world country but this video makes me feel like I live in a castle.

[boobopish]

I’ve lived in HK for over 30 years, and it’s been like this all this time, nothings changed, and nothing will. The government says they care, but they don’t. It’s disgusting to treat ppl like this, and especially in a rich city like HK.