11 crazy photos of micro-apartments around Hong Kong
Hong Kong has announced plans to build more affordable homes over the next decade. By 2027, it plans to add 280,000 public homes and 180,000 private homes. Until then, parts of Hong Kong will remain claustrophobic as ever.
![11 crazy photos of micro-apartments around Hong Kong](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-62746519%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-842506%2Fhong-kong-has-announced-plans-to-build-more-affordable-homes-over-the-next-decade-by-2027-it-plans-to-add-280000-public-homes-and-180000-private-homes-until-then-parts-of-hong-kong-will-remain-claustrophobic-as-ever-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Until they can move up the ranks at their jobs, thousands of newly employed workers turn to ultra-tight spaces as their first homes.
![Until they can move up the ranks at their jobs, thousands of newly employed workers turn to ultra-tight spaces as their first homes.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746520,width-700,height-525,imgsize-961272/until-they-can-move-up-the-ranks-at-their-jobs-thousands-of-newly-employed-workers-turn-to-ultra-tight-spaces-as-their-first-homes-.jpg)
But families also find their way to these micro-apartments. In a 60-square-foot apartment in Hong Kong, a mother spends $487 a month to house herself and her son. Families who are less fortunate must split up due to lack of space.
![But families also find their way to these micro-apartments. In a 60-square-foot apartment in Hong Kong, a mother spends $487 a month to house herself and her son. Families who are less fortunate must split up due to lack of space.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746521,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1401547/but-families-also-find-their-way-to-these-micro-apartments-in-a-60-square-foot-apartment-in-hong-kong-a-mother-spends-487-a-month-to-house-herself-and-her-son-families-who-are-less-fortunate-must-split-up-due-to-lack-of-space-.jpg)
If there is one silver lining, it's that residents can make use of common areas that offers a touch more space, including a toilet and sink. Still, for two dozen people, the resources quickly spread thin.
![If there is one silver lining, it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746522,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1171797/if-there-is-one-silver-lining-its-that-residents-can-make-use-of-common-areas-that-offers-a-touch-more-space-including-a-toilet-and-sink-still-for-two-dozen-people-the-resources-quickly-spread-thin-.jpg)
Simon Wong, a 62-year-old resident, has just enough room to hang a few shirts and pairs of pants. His rent of $226 would be enough to share a small one-bedroom apartment in some American towns.
![Simon Wong, a 62-year-old resident, has just enough room to hang a few shirts and pairs of pants. His rent of $226 would be enough to share a small one-bedroom apartment in some American towns.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746523,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1212166/simon-wong-a-62-year-old-resident-has-just-enough-room-to-hang-a-few-shirts-and-pairs-of-pants-his-rent-of-226-would-be-enough-to-share-a-small-one-bedroom-apartment-in-some-american-towns-.jpg)
Source: CBS News
Inside a 600-square-foot apartment complex in Hong Kong sit 19 units, all measuring less than 25 square feet. They are known as "cubicle homes." Or, more ominously, "coffin homes."
![Inside a 600-square-foot apartment complex in Hong Kong sit 19 units, all measuring less than 25 square feet. They are known as "cubicle homes." Or, more ominously, "coffin homes."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746524,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1303008/inside-a-600-square-foot-apartment-complex-in-hong-kong-sit-19-units-all-measuring-less-than-25-square-feet-they-are-known-as-cubicle-homes-or-more-ominously-coffin-homes-.jpg)
Low-wage work all but guarantees people spend years, sometimes decades, in the micro-apartments, unless an elderly son or daughter can move them out. Seniors relying on social security often spend their remaining years cooped up.
![Low-wage work all but guarantees people spend years, sometimes decades, in the micro-apartments, unless an elderly son or daughter can move them out. Seniors relying on social security often spend their remaining years cooped up.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746525,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1312146/low-wage-work-all-but-guarantees-people-spend-years-sometimes-decades-in-the-micro-apartments-unless-an-elderly-son-or-daughter-can-move-them-out-seniors-relying-on-social-security-often-spend-their-remaining-years-cooped-up-.jpg)
But not even coffin homes are the worst of it. Some residents, predominantly elderly men, stay in public housing that swap bunk beds for stackable cages. Typically, up to 12 men live in one room.
![But not even coffin homes are the worst of it. Some residents, predominantly elderly men, stay in public housing that swap bunk beds for stackable cages. Typically, up to 12 men live in one room.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746526,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1377742/but-not-even-coffin-homes-are-the-worst-of-it-some-residents-predominantly-elderly-men-stay-in-public-housing-that-swap-bunk-beds-for-stackable-cages-typically-up-to-12-men-live-in-one-room-.jpg)
Kong Siu-Kau is one such tenant. He complains there are often bed bugs and putrid smells from poor sanitation.
![Kong Siu-Kau is one such tenant. He complains there are often bed bugs and putrid smells from poor sanitation.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746527,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1369108/kong-siu-kau-is-one-such-tenant-he-complains-there-are-often-bed-bugs-and-putrid-smells-from-poor-sanitation-.jpg)
Although Hong Kong officials have promised relief packages meant to open up more land for housing, residents are still widely forced to make due with what they've got.
![Although Hong Kong officials have promised relief packages meant to open up more land for housing, residents are still widely forced to make due with what they](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746528,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1229510/although-hong-kong-officials-have-promised-relief-packages-meant-to-open-up-more-land-for-housing-residents-are-still-widely-forced-to-make-due-with-what-theyve-got-.jpg)
Even if they might want or need more space, residents are often within arm's reach of the things they treasure most.
![Even if they might want or need more space, residents are often within arm](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-62746530,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1298277/even-if-they-might-want-or-need-more-space-residents-are-often-within-arms-reach-of-the-things-they-treasure-most-.jpg)
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