Undesirable Living Conditions Among Glass-walled Skyscrapers in Hong Kong

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Vibrant and colourful, Hong Kong is a metropolis situated in the crossroads of Asia. The city flourishes especially well at financial and service industries, and has a per capita GDP of HK$285,146 (2012), according to official data. Being the world’s 9th largest economy, Hong Kong has a real GDP growth at 1.4% (2012) and is backed up by its 3.79-million labour force. Undeniably, Hong Kong is one of the wealthiest cities in Asia.

However, according to the Transport and Housing Bureau, the average living space per head is 12.9 sq. metres in 2013, much smaller than other Asian cities like Singapore (25 square metres per head). Many Hong Kongers are living in cramped con ditions. This is mainly due to high property prices and skyrocketing rents, and the large wealth gap in the society.

According to the World Class index by Savills, Hong Kong has the highest real estate prices in the world since 2005. Prices are 63% higher than London, which is second on the list. For rentals, Hong Kong has the third highest rental prices in the world, only lower than that of London and Paris. A typical 700-square-feet flat in a housing estate in Tsueng Kwan O can be sold for HK$ 7.55 million and rented for HK$20,500 per month. With the median monthly employment income at HK$12000 and monthly household income at HK$22000 in 2013 (According to the General Household survey), many households cannot afford the rent, let alone purchasing a property.

Apart from the above, the wealth gap in the Hong Kong society is highly significant. Despite a high per capita GDP, the Gini coefficient of Hong Kong have been consistently high among developed regions in the world. In 2011, the Gini coefficient was 0.537, which is way past the 0.4 warning line. With the ...

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... year). Despite increased supply of housing flats, demand remains high, leading to skyrocketing property prices and rent. With queues for a subsidized flat are growing ever longer, low-income families turn to flats with cheaper rent, which are unavoidably of small size. However, as rents continue to rise further, they move to even smaller flats with worse living conditions.

Poor and cramped living conditions are problems deeply rooted into the lives of grassroots in Hong Kong, and to uproot these problems are no easy tasks. However, with the help of the Hong Kong government and NGOs, the situation can certainly be meliorated. More forms of subsidized housing (such as bachelor apartments) can be introduced. By voicing concerns and raising others’ awareness, citizens can also help the cause. Let make Hong Kong a better place by helping to improve living conditions.

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