Hong Kong’s housing crisis: soaring prices put flats beyond reach, while queue to rent keeps growing longer
- Mainland Chinese migrants among poor families paying high rents for tiny spaces while awaiting rental flats
- Newlyweds who cannot afford to set up home save for years to buy ‘nano’ flats under 260 sq ft
In the first of a three-part series on Hong Kong’s housing crisis, the Post examines why demand outstrips supply, leaving Hongkongers unable to afford their own homes.
Airport worker Wong Ng is aware that Beijing wants Hong Kong to get rid of all tiny, substandard homes by 2049.
That ambitious goal is cold comfort for the permanent resident who has been waiting seven years to rent a public flat.
“Maybe it is possible, but many of us cannot wait until 2049. There’s still 28 years to go,” said Wong, 39.
Originally from China’s Jiangxi province, he first moved to Hong Kong in 1988. He later attended university in mainland China, got married and worked in advertising in Shenzhen before returning to Hong Kong seven years ago.
Home for his family of four is a 120 sq ft subdivided space in Tai Wo Hau.
