In brief
Hong Kong's government plans to impose strict regulations on subdivided apartments, endangering homes for many low-income families.
Liu Lanhua stands in her cramped subdivided apartment in Hong Kong, where her kitchen is also the family bathroom. With her daughter, Liu is one of 220,000 people living in such small spaces, which highlight the city's stark income inequality. Recently, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee, revealed plans for minimum standards for these tiny homes, potentially eliminating over 30,000 units.Living conditions, as Liu describes, are often crowded—her pet turtles share a basin under the fridge due to limited space. The government's push to ban subdivided housing comes as Beijing pressures Hong Kong to address its housing crisis, linking it to the unrest seen in 2019. Liu and others fear that stricter regulations will mean higher rents and possible eviction, leaving families anxious about their futures.
