Soaring rent forces Hong Kong district councillor into 'container office'

"Cage men", subdivided flat dwellers, street sleepers … now you can add one more term to Hong Kong's lodging lexicon - "container man" politicians.

District councillor Stanley Ho Ngai-kam has an office that sets him apart from the other 506 council members. He operates out of a cargo container.

When Ho, 28, was elected two years ago to represent 20,000 residents of the private residential complex Heng Fa Chuen, he could not afford the rents in the neighbourhood. He was forced to open an office in an industrial building in faraway Chai Wan.

So the Eastern District councillor came up with an out-of-the-box solution. Ho, of the Federation of Trade Unions, decided to set up a "container office" last June. He discussed the idea with officials from the home affairs and lands departments.

Ho managed to lease a 150-square-foot plot by the road in Shing Tai Road for HK$1,200 a month. He pays a further HK$3,800 a month for the container.

Ho moved into his "office" last month, and the arrangement allows him to keep in touch with his voters while still balancing the books.