Average living space for Hong Kong’s poorest residents same as that of prisoners, survey reveals
NGO representing subdivided flat residents finds 50 sq ft per person is typical
The average living space for some of Hong Kong’s poorest residents is the same as that of prisoners, a survey has revealed.
The Kwai Chung Subdivided Flat Residents Alliance, representing those who live in partitioned cubicles in the urban area of Kwai Chung, New Territories, found that the average living space per person of 204 families they surveyed between July and September was only 50 sq ft – roughly the size of three toilet cubicles or half the size of a standard parking space.
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Prisoners in shared dormitories have an average space of 49.5 sq ft per person, according to the Correctional Services Department’s planning guidelines, while maximum security prisoners require 75 sq ft of living space.
The living area for grassroots people is the same as for prisoners
The survey results also showed none of the 204 families polled met 10 basic living standards that included conditions such as having a formal rental contract as well as a separate kitchen and toilet.
Only 41 per cent of those polled satisfied four basic standards on the list, while 12 per cent fulfilled seven or more.
“It is completely unacceptable and inhumane that the living area for grassroots people is the same as for prisoners in such a prosperous city like Hong Kong,” said alliance member Yau Tsz-wei, who oversaw the survey.
The criteria that most of those polled were unable to meet was having an average living space measuring no less than 75 sq ft – the Housing Authority’s standard size for each public rental housing tenant. Only 12 per cent of those polled met the standard.
The results further found that rent increases for subdivided flat residents outpaced the city’s inflation rate, while utility fees were on average more expensive than government rates.