Hong Kong is dealing with many and varied problems. For example, young people have a conundrum about sexual education that can be summarized in one word: badminton. Others are economical; Like spending a fortune to become the tourism capital in Asia and the lack of tourists. But there is one thing above all, and the government wants to put an end to this: to improve living conditions by banning living together in “zulos”. The problem is where you put so many people.

Divided houses. To understand the step taken by the government, we need to talk about such extremely small “houses”, which are created by dividing apartments or large areas into multiple smaller units. These areas, which can vary from a few square meters in size, are rented to low-income families or people who cannot access traditional housing due to high rental costs in the city.

Such subdivisions are often found in older buildings in densely populated and working-class neighborhoods; Here, property owners can divide the apartments and rent them to more people, thus maximizing their income. Although these areas are used as homes, conditions such as ventilation problems, insufficient natural light and poor hygiene conditions are often quite risky. In some cases, kitchens and bathrooms are even integrated into a single space or even shared among several units.

This cannot happen. Approximately 220,000 people live in these conditions described above, which are a product of speculation and economic inequality. Hence Hong Kong leader John Lee’s new proposal: More precisely, set minimum standards of space and conditions under which people must live together in an area of ​​​​at least 8 square meters, with separate bathrooms and kitchens. with windows if possible.

In summary: eliminate such houses by 2049 (because the government thinks the housing problem is behind riots like the one in 2019). This paradoxically creates another problem.

When your home does not reach the minimum level. The New York Times told several stories, such as that of Liu Lanhua, a mother who lived with her daughter in a 7 square meter space where the kitchen was also the bathroom. For him and the 30 percent of those living in these “houses”, the new measure poses a risk. Liu’s house would not meet the new requirements, and remodeling it would be expensive and impossible.

In addition, there is an old fear about real estate speculation: that the new rule will increase rents and lead to evictions without guaranteeing tenants options for relocation. For their part, as we said, Beijing politicians see the changes in another light, as a way to address the housing shortage.

An unresolved problem. While it certainly seems difficult, it could be much worse. The plan apparently does not cover those living in “coffin houses” or “cages” of wire or wood, or even in more precarious areas. At a meeting with the Kwun Tong Subdivided Housing Issues Group, residents raised concerns about whether subsidies would be provided to those who cannot afford higher rents or whether they would be given some sort of priority on public housing lists. Moon Tang, a mother of three, told NYT that residents’ financial situation has not improved at the same rate as standards.

The government has stated that the implementation will be gradual and assistance will be provided when necessary, but that is the message, not a single figure has been spoken out loud. But many experts warn the new rules could make housing even cheaper and think it is vital to increase subsidies to support those who will be disadvantaged by these changes.

And the last: the oldest. It is the last leg of a problem that is becoming increasingly serious. For example, the case of retired technician Ben Shek, who lives in a 7 square meter house and shares a bathroom with two other families, is a story that exemplifies the difficulties many older people will face if new regulations force them to do so. to move. According to Shek, his mobility is limited after his stroke, and he values ​​the comfort of his current position, which he describes as “vital.” It is absolutely impossible for the elderly to move.

In short, the breeding ground in Hong Kong has many factors that cause many major cities to struggle with the housing, rent and speculation problems they face. A new regulatory proposal in Hong Kong seeks to improve living conditions, but it faces a big challenge: Achieving this without exacerbating the housing accessibility crisis for the most disadvantaged population.

Image | Radu Micu

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