The Reality of Cage Homes

Around 90% of Hong Kong’s population lives in less than 750 square feet areas, but it is still one of the most expensive housing situations in the world. A 16 square feet block costs about 230 US dollars, which makes the cost of living in cage homes higher than a 4-bedroom luxury rental hotel in Manhattan on billionaire’s row. The fact that Hong Kong is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and houses over 125,000 millionaires makes it even harder to comprehend how poor the conditions are for the poor. 

 

Each subflat, which are similar to floors in an apartment, usually hold 30 cages and some are even stacked upon each other. In addition, many people are expected to share a bathroom and because there is no proper ventilation, the conditions are worse than in some third-world countries. Overall, this brings attention to the larger housing crisis in Hong Kong and the disparity between the rich and the poor, which if left unchecked, can rupture the fabrication of society.