A Glimpse into Life in Hong Kong’s Subdivided Homes

As Liu Lanhua looked around her cramped living space in Hong Kong, she fought against the frustration that welled up within her. The narrow kitchen, which also served as the family’s sole bathroom, was a constant reminder of the city’s severe housing crisis. Colanders, pots, and hairbrushes hung precariously above the toilet, while jars of chili oil were balanced on exposed water pipes. Just a few feet away, an electric stove simmered with a hearty stew of chicken wings and chestnuts, adding to the cluttered ambiance of their home.

Liu and her 12-year-old daughter are part of the approximately 220,000 residents in Hong Kong living in subdivided flats—small, partitioned spaces that starkly illustrate the city’s growing income inequality. The challenges posed by these living conditions have become even more pressing with recent government announcements.

Last month, Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, revealed plans to enforce minimum standards for the size and fixtures in these subdivided homes. This new policy is set to phase out more than 30,000 of the smallest units, leaving many families like Liu’s in uncertainty. In her home, there was no room for a proper sink; instead, the only suitable spot for her two pet turtles was a basin tucked beneath the refrigerator. She sighed, reflecting, “If we had the financial means, these turtles would be in a dedicated space, away from the chaos of our lives.”

The cluttered kitchen and makeshift bathroom have become emblematic of a larger issue. The Beijing government has urged Hong Kong to eliminate subdivided units and other cramped living situations by 2049, citing the housing shortage as a contributing factor to the unrest that gripped the city in 2019. As Liu navigates her daily life in this confined space, the looming changes threaten not only her home but also the way of life for thousands of families in similar circumstances.