Hidden Reality: Life in Hong Kong's Cage Homes.

Robloak

18 Apr 202315:14

Summary

TLDRThe video script presents a stark contrast between the bustling financial hub and the hidden struggles of Hong Kong's underprivileged. Despite its reputation for modern architecture and high living standards, the city grapples with economic inequality, with approximately 1.2 million people living below the poverty line. The narrative delves into the reality of living in 'sky slums' and 'cage homes,' where residents endure cramped, poorly ventilated conditions in makeshift rooftop houses or subdivided flats. The government's efforts to address this issue are complicated by a shortage of affordable housing and a growing demand, exacerbated by the city's dense population and limited land. The video also highlights the stories of individuals like Law Fug's family, who have lived in these conditions for over a decade, and the former real estate employee Alan, who has turned to farming in a bid to revive Hong Kong's agricultural past. The piece concludes by acknowledging the simple aspirations of these residents for basic human needs and the harsh reality that for some, these dreams may remain unfulfilled.

Takeaways

🏙️ Hong Kong is a major financial and business hub with modern high-rise buildings, tourist attractions, and shopping areas, but it also has a side that many do not see.
🏡 There are people living in makeshift homes on rooftops of buildings, in 20-story buildings without elevators, which are dangerous and illegal.
👵 A middle-aged woman has lived in such a rooftop house for over 10 years and refuses to move, even with the opportunity for public housing.
💰 Hong Kong has a growing economic disparity, being one of the most economically unequal and expensive cities to live in, with the world's most expensive real estate.
📉 20 percent of Hong Kong's population, about 1.2 million people, live below the poverty line.
🏠 At least 170,000 people live in subdivided flats, also known as 'coffin homes' or 'box houses,' which are small, cramped, and lack privacy and ventilation.
🚫 The government banned cage homes but was replaced by coffin homes, which are even more cramped and lack basic necessities like sunlight and fresh air.
👷‍♂️ Many workers, especially those from China, lost their jobs due to the economic shift from industrial to service sectors and are not entitled to social welfare or public housing.
🏘️ Public housing is in high demand and not easily obtained; it is prioritized for families, leaving middle-aged and older individuals often last on the list.
🌾 Some people are returning to farming, trying to revive agriculture in areas that were once important agricultural regions but were abandoned.
🌃 The streets of Hong Kong are crowded, and some people find it more comfortable to sleep on the streets, highlighting the dire need for living space and a place to breathe.

Q & A

What is the alternative living arrangement for low-income people in Hong Kong where rents are high?
-An alternative living arrangement for low-income people in Hong Kong is living on the roof of a building, which is dangerous and illegal.
What is the term used to describe the rooftop houses in Hong Kong?
-The rooftop houses in Hong Kong are sometimes referred to as 'sky slums'.
What is the approximate usable living area for each family in a shared flat in Hong Kong?
-In a shared flat in Hong Kong, the total usable living area is approximately 10 square meters per family.
What are the 'box houses' in Hong Kong, and why are they a concern?
-Box houses are small, cramped living spaces in Hong Kong that lack privacy. They are a concern due to their size, lack of ventilation, and the absence of natural light.
What is the historical context of 'cage homes' in Hong Kong?
-Cage homes in Hong Kong have been around since the 1950s and 60s when the population was growing due to the immigration of Chinese workers. They resemble livestock coops and were eventually banned by the government.
What is the term used for the small living spaces that replaced the banned cage homes in Hong Kong?
-The term used for the small living spaces that replaced the banned cage homes is 'coffin homes'.
What is the economic disparity like in Hong Kong?
-Hong Kong is one of the world's most economically unequal cities with a significant gap between the wealthy and the poor, and it has the world's most expensive real estate.
What percentage of Hong Kong's population lives below the poverty line?
-Around 20 percent of Hong Kong's population, or about 1.2 million people, live below the poverty line.
What is the situation regarding public housing in Hong Kong?
-More than 50 percent of people in Hong Kong live in public housing, which is cheaper than market prices. However, obtaining allocated housing or a public housing project is not easy due to high demand and strict qualification requirements.
Why do some people choose to leave the city and return to farming?
-Some people choose to leave the city and return to farming due to the overcrowding and the desire to reconnect with the land and a simpler way of life.
What is the current trend in Hong Kong regarding the interest in farming?
-In recent years, there has been a growing interest in farming among Hong Kong people, with some even leaving their city lives to return to agriculture.
What is the main concern for the urban poor in Hong Kong regarding their living conditions?
-The main concern for the urban poor in Hong Kong is meeting basic human needs, such as having a safe and affordable place to live.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Hong Kong's Hidden Side: Rooftop Dwellings and Sky-Slums

This paragraph introduces a contrasting view of Hong Kong, known as a financial and business hub with modern architecture and tourist attractions. However, it highlights the existence of a 20-story building without an elevator, where people live in makeshift rooftop houses, indicating the city's stark economic disparity. The owner of one such house, a middle-aged woman, has lived there for over a decade despite the illegality and danger. Hong Kong's economic inequality is underscored by the fact that around 20% of its population lives below the poverty line, with at least 170,000 people residing in similar conditions. The paragraph also mentions 'shared flats' or 'box houses,' which are cramped, lack privacy, and have poor ventilation, and 'cage homes,' a type of housing that was prevalent in the 1950s and 60s but has since been banned, leading to the emergence of 'coffin homes.'

05:00

🏚️ The Cramped Quarters of Hong Kong's Coffin Homes

The second paragraph delves into the reality of living in 'coffin homes,' which are around 20 square meters with 14 stacked units, each housing a single person. These units serve as both sleeping and storage spaces, with severe lack of sunlight and ventilation. The narrative describes how this type of housing operates as an underground business, mutually beneficial to both landlords and tenants, and is particularly popular among illegal immigrants who work long hours and find it convenient to live in the city. The paragraph also touches upon the challenges faced by migrant workers who, due to a 2004 law, must reside in Hong Kong for seven years before being eligible for public housing. It concludes with the observation that those who rent cage or coffin homes are often middle-aged and older, and are the last to be considered for government housing support.

10:02

🌾 A Return to Agriculture: Reviving Hong Kong's Farmland

The third paragraph contrasts the urban density with a movement back to farming roots. It tells the story of Alan, a former real estate employee, who has turned to farming in Lantao Island's largest paddy field. This field had been abandoned but is now being revitalized by Alan and his friends who left city life behind. The narrative highlights the challenges of changing perceptions about land use from building houses to farming and the hope of inspiring others to return to agriculture. Despite growing interest in farming among Hong Kong residents, there is a concern about the longevity of agricultural land in the face of development trends. The paragraph ends by reflecting on the crowded streets of Hong Kong and the unattainable dreams of basic human needs for many of its inhabitants.

15:02

💭 The Unfulfilled Dreams of Hong Kong's Urban Poor

The final paragraph is a poignant reflection on the unmet aspirations of Hong Kong's less privileged. It emphasizes that for some, the dream is not about luxury but the fulfillment of basic needs. The paragraph serves as a somber reminder of the harsh realities faced by many in the city, where even the most fundamental requirements for a decent living standard remain a dream for some, possibly an unattainable one.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡International Trading Port

An international trading port is a hub for global commerce where goods and services are exchanged between different countries. In the context of the video, Hong Kong is described as an international trading port, emphasizing its role as a major financial and business center. This sets the stage for contrasting the city's economic prosperity with the living conditions of some of its residents.

💡High-Rise Buildings

High-rise buildings are structures with a significant height, often used for residential, commercial, or office purposes. The video mentions modern high-rise buildings as a symbol of Hong Kong's urban development and economic progress, but also contrasts this with the living conditions of those who reside in makeshift homes on rooftops or in subdivided flats.

💡Sky Village

A sky village refers to an informal settlement located on the rooftops of buildings, typically inhabited by low-income individuals or families. The video discusses sky villages in Hong Kong, which are both dangerous and illegal, yet represent a last resort for housing due to the city's high cost of living.

💡Economic Inequality

Economic inequality refers to the disparities in income, wealth, or economic status among individuals or social groups. The video highlights the increasing gap between the rich and the poor in Hong Kong, which is one of the world's most economically unequal cities, despite its overall GDP growth.

💡Public Housing

Public housing is government-owned housing made available to low-income individuals and families at below-market rents. The video touches on the challenges of obtaining public housing in Hong Kong, where there is a high demand and strict qualification criteria, leading to long waiting times for those in need.

💡Box House

A box house is a term used in Hong Kong to describe extremely small, subdivided living spaces that often lack privacy and proper ventilation. The video describes how these units, averaging about 10 square meters per family, are a result of the city's dense population and high cost of housing.

💡Cage Home

Cage homes are a type of extremely cramped and confined living space, where individuals live in small, wire-enclosed cages. The video mentions that these were prevalent in the 1950s and 60s, and despite being banned, similar conditions persist in the form of coffin homes.

💡Coffin Home

Coffin homes are a modern iteration of cage homes, where individuals reside in tiny, stacked boxes resembling coffins. The video describes these spaces as lacking windows, sunlight, and ventilation, and being a grim necessity for some of Hong Kong's urban poor.

💡Vacant Land

Vacant land refers to unused or undeveloped plots of land. The video discusses the issue of vacant land in Hong Kong, questioning why such spaces are not utilized for more affordable housing when there is a clear need, instead of focusing solely on high-rise developments for profit.

💡Agricultural Revival

Agricultural revival refers to the process of reintroducing or expanding agricultural practices in an area where they had previously declined. The video features individuals like Alan who have left city life to farm in an attempt to bring back agriculture to Hong Kong's largest paddy field, symbolizing a return to more sustainable and self-sufficient ways of living.

💡Urban Poor

The urban poor are individuals or families living in cities who are struggling financially and often face issues such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or low wages. The video focuses on the struggles of the urban poor in Hong Kong, who may work long hours yet still find it difficult to secure basic necessities like proper housing.

Highlights

Hong Kong is a global financial and business hub known for its modern high-rise buildings, tourist attractions, and shopping areas.

The city has a hidden side, including a 20-story building with no elevator where people live in makeshift rooftop houses.

Living on rooftops is dangerous and illegal, yet some families persist due to the lack of affordable housing options.

Hong Kong has one of the world's highest economic inequalities and is one of the most expensive cities to live in.

Approximately 20 percent of Hong Kong's population, or 1.2 million people, live below the poverty line.

At least 170,000 people in Hong Kong live in 'cage homes' or 'coffin homes', which are small, cramped, and lack privacy and ventilation.

Cage homes were banned, leading to the emergence of 'coffin homes' as an alternative for low-income individuals.

The government's efforts to provide public housing are strained by the high demand and long waiting lists.

Hong Kong's mass transit system, while comprehensive, is becoming a financial burden for the urban poor.

Over 50 percent of Hong Kong residents live in public housing, which is cheaper than market prices.

Hong Kong's poverty rate has risen significantly from 11.9 percent in 1986 to 20.1 percent in 2006.

Many former factory workers, mostly from China, lost their jobs due to the shift from an industrial to a service-based economy and are not entitled to social welfare.

A 2004 law requires migrant workers to live in Hong Kong for at least seven years to be eligible for public housing.

The city's overcrowding has led some to return to their rural roots and engage in farming.

Alan, a former real estate employee, has led efforts to revive agriculture in Hong Kong's largest paddy field.

There is a growing interest in farming among Hong Kong residents as a way to counter urban density and high living costs.

Some Hong Kong residents prefer to sleep on the streets due to the lack of space and comfort in their homes.

For many, the dream is not luxury but meeting basic human needs, which for some remains unattainable.