Hong Kong’s housing crisis has reached a record high level of severity. For 14 years in a row, the Demographia International Housing Affordability survey has ranked the city as having the most unaffordable housing market in the world. The fight against sky-high housing prices continues. Meanwhile, climate change-fueled extreme weather is putting the most vulnerable residents of the city in further jeopardy. An estimated 220,000 individuals reside in subdivided units, known as “cage homes,” or illegal rooftop flats, many of which lack basic amenities and pose health risks.
Mr. Wu is one of them. He lives in a shared subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po, and he lacks air conditioning. As summer days become dangerously hot with rising heat indices, he says his home environment has become intolerable. “It’s so hot it feels like you’re getting heatstroke,” Mr. Wu commented, highlighting the oppressive heat in his living quarters. In recent weeks, Environment Canada has issued heat warnings across the country with temperatures exceeding 36°C (96.8°F). We need immediate and sustained action to make these perilous conditions safe!
The city’s subtropical climate doesn’t help matters, with stifling humidity making hot days feel even hotter. The urban heat island effect contributes to an increase in nighttime temperatures in low-income communities. This leaves residents with almost no options to escape the stifling heat.
Inhumane Living Conditions
The conditions under which many people in Hong Kong live are appalling. Yeung Fong-yan, another resident of a subdivided unit, explains the lengths she’s gone to in order to deal with soaring heat levels. “Sometimes it’s so hot we can’t even sleep,” Yeung said. Her twin bed also functions as her couch and her dining table, a clear indicator of the sheer lack of space afforded to her.
Sze Lai Shan, deputy director of the Society for Community Organization (SoCO) explains just how brutal these conditions can get. “Some of the conditions are quite inhumane,” she stated. Many residents inhabit spaces as small as 15 square feet and often share kitchens and toilets with over 30 households. The absence of personal space and privacy multiplies their challenges.
Roy, another resident dealing with Exide’s impact, shared his frustrations on the emotional burden of calling these small houses home. It feels almost as if there is a clock tower set up between us and our new friends forbidding us from enjoying their company. I’m in a gloomy and heavy mood. I’ve just lost my confidence,” he told, highlighting the emotional toll of bad housing in addition to the physical pain.
Rising Temperatures and Health Risks
Climate change is user-redefining weather around the world. Consequently, Hong Kong has been undergoing a dramatic increase in “very hot days,” which are characterized as days with temperatures reaching 33°C (91.4°F) or above. The total annual days increased to 52 last year, an increase of 46 from six just 20 years ago. This troubling trend has grave consequences across the public health landscape, especially for those who age in place in more vulnerable environments.
Mr. Tse, a resident of Sham Shui Po, expressed concern over people living in equally precarious situations. “I’m really angry. Many people will die. They will not be able to make it,” he stated, reflecting a growing anxiety among residents regarding their long-term survival amidst rising temperatures.
The physical wellbeing of residents is increasingly endangered as safe, healthy, and climate-adapted housing solutions become less achievable. Roy expressed how living in a subdivided unit has taken a toll on his well-being: “I feel very helpless. I can’t even get a single good night’s sleep. I just want a good sleep.”
Government Response and Future Prospects
Hong Kong’s government is taking an unusual step of following an advocacy group and community organization’s lead and caving to pressure. Extending beyond tax credits, they’ve introduced a “Basic Housing” bill that would establish minimum size and ventilation standards for rental units by 2026. Together, these measures especially seek to improve the quality of life for those most impacted by our nation’s housing crisis.
Under national government plans, 30,000 of the public housing units—known as light units—would be built by 2027–28. To date, they’ve put into place over 21,000 transitional housing units. Advocates like Sze Lai Shan argue that these measures are not sufficient to address the immediate needs of residents facing extreme heat and inadequate living conditions.
They don’t want to live like this. But they have no choice. This is unacceptable,” said Sze, calling for more urgent action from government officials to address the housing crisis impacting thousands.
