Sub-divided flats in HK

Title : Sub-divided flats in Hong Kong

Sub-divided flats is one of the most serious housing problems in Hong Kong.  As it has plagued HK for a long time, it affects the grass-root and citizens of Hong Kong to a wide extent.  The grass-root can only afford to live in small flats or sub-divided flats unwillingly.  Indeed, it is grief to live in these units.

There are several reasons why the sub-divided flats are popular in Hong Kong.  As Hong Kong is a small place with a huge population of about seven millions of people, the over-crowdedness occur much difficulty and many problems.  Everywhere is densely populated.  Nearly fifty percent of Hong Kong people belong to the grass-root level nowadays.  In order to reduce their daily expenses to compensate the daily usage such as food, they choose to live in sub-divided flats which are low-rented.  However, property prices continue to escalate.

Because of the poor living conditions of these flats, the residents encounter innumerable difficulties. They are bad hygiene condition, share facilities like toilets, kitchens, water supply, electricity… etc.  Frequently they argue and quarrel among themselves.  The bad elements from the triad societies will easily penetrate into them.  The residents’ conversations over phone are easily overheard by others.  The incoming letters in mailboxes are easily stolen by others or even thrown away.  People of different origins and cultural background such as different countries and languages will easily create misunderstanding.  They are having a hard life.  Since they have difficulty making both ends meet, they lead a miserable life full of pressure with no privacy at all.

The fire in Fa Yuen Street occurring in November 2011 raised public awareness of the safety of sub-divided flats in Hong Kong.  Nine persons were dead in the fire.  Many were injured.  Fire hazards are harmful to the structural safety of the buildings.  Since the fire was hazardous, the SAR government showed much concern over the problem.  The Chief Executive, CY Leung, launched ten measures or ten initiatives to cool the property market and home prices.  However, the soaring of property prices goes on and on.  It is generally anticipated by the public that the SAR government is incapable to solve the problem for the time being.

However, it’s interesting to note that the SAR government had resettled these residents to live in the public housing estates recently.

We should be optimistic that the problem will be solved in the near future.  Giving time to the SAR government will be the most grateful thing to do nowadays.  There is a long history of the existence of sub-divided flats in Hong Kong.  In my opinion, the SAR government should encourage plans to set up sub-divided rooms to solve the immediate serious problem.  However, the safety facilities of these buildings must be at a high level. Nowadays, there are so many government factory buildings being discussed for conversion to living units.  Why not  distribute them to the citizens as sub-divided flats?  In fact, public housing estates are like sub-divided flats.  In this way it can be solved with immediate effect.  Do you think so?  

Mary                                           

(500 words)