The grim reality of life in Hong Kong’s ‘coffin homes’ | Talking Post with Yonden Lhatoo 

That lady who finds shelter for the homeless is a wonderful example of humanity.💐💕☮️🙏

Sze Lai-shan is an inspiration. She doesn't care about money or fame. She just wants to help these poor people and give them hope.

I will never complain about my 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan ever again.

Singapore has similar population as Hong Kong, similar land size, similar income level, but 85% of Singaporeans own their government built housing, and ZERO persons live in coffin or cage homes. HK's government just does not care for their poor.

My Hong Kong ex-colleague once told me HK people like to stay out late after work as much as possible to delay going back to their chicken coops housing. One of the reasons why their nightlife is bustling.

the guy that is 80 yo actually looks amazing for the age

HK is a city of extremes. Simply too dense and wages are too low..cage homes are absolutely disgusting way to live for humans. That social worker is an angel

My father investigated these coffin homes when he worked for RTHK in the 70's. From what I remember ( long time ago) , the big issue back then was that people were unable to pay for aged care so they would put them into these cage homes and leave them there to die. He was quite shaken by what he saw.It's a disgrace, an embarrassment is not putting it strongly enough. Well done, Sze Lai-Shan! Most people don't seem to care.#scmp #TalkingPostwithYondenLhatoo

I think I’d rather be on the street than live in one of those coffin homes. My claustrophobia would be too much to stand! Whole situation is so sad.

I truely feel the pain for these people and truely appreciate what the editor is doing for exposing the real issues for Hong Kong Chinese people.

Sze Lai-shan is my shero!!!!! Amazing but thankless work! This is her love language. She has a heart for humanity.

There is so much mountainous land in HK, unfortunately, the HK government doesn't want to touch that land to keep land prices high with the short supply. - From HK

What a beautiful wonderful woman!! Thank the Lord for this lady 🙏🏼❤️

Those cage homes existed since Hong Kong was still under British rule. Imagine that.

This problem exists here in London too, but not on this scale (it's not quite as bad). It isn't due to a shortage of housing. It's due to greed and too many landlords. Buy only 1 home, the one you need to live in, and this problem wouldn't exist

Uncle Leung was communicating in English at the beginning of the interview. He must be highly educated. Wonder if anyone knows his background. Might be a professional or has been abroad.

If I were the HK government I'd tell the billionaire property developers - for every new luxury apartment you build, you need to build or pay for one low cost government housing. The problem will be solved in 5 years.

Thank you MIss Sze for your years of hard work for the people of HK. 🙏

Coffin homes remind me of self storage units where I've seen some people reside in the USA. I happened upon a couple with a small child living in a storage unit during one of the hottest summer weeks in my city. Their baby was so lethargic, I thought the child would die from heat exhaustion. I asked them if I could help them and paid for them to stay a week in a nice hotel nearby. Once they were settled, I asked a social service contact to help them. There's a long waitlist in my city for affordable housing, but they got a place in a shelter because of the baby. It's terrible to see a similar situation happening in HK. 😢

Every society’s ‘prosperity’ should be measured by the standard and quality of living that prevails for the absolute bottom rung of society.

Sze Lai Shan is the inspiration for people in Hong Kong..... selfless and just trying to do the best to help the under privilage... Well Done and Keep it up.

The opening broken my heart already ~~ "How many years of life do I have left..." ~~ the situation is heartbreaking 💔

Who are the landlords renting these units out? What does the Fire department have to say about this?

@16:45mins I totally agree with this gentleman. I'm from SE Asia, i remember they had these housing problems way back in 80s when I first saw a documentary on it. Honestly speaking, building homes to re-house 150k plus hongkongers can be done within 5 to 10 years. There is no need to wait for 26 years. It can be done, its whether how much politics and red-tape that is being played out.

When was the last time we’ve seen you Yonden? We need you to be more consistent. Don’t let your voice be outspoken. Keep Hong Kong alive.

Singaporeans who keep complaining about not being able to afford housing should watch this.

The rich chose not to share the wealth. The politicians choose not to force the rich to share. That is all.

It's in the interest of the government and rich people to not build so fast and devalue existing real estate. If they can build a hospital in China in 2 weeks then they can build at least 100 buildings to house 100000 people in 4 years. Remember the government owns the land, Put it in the far north in the New Territories and if these people want it then they can live there. 300 sq ft for singles/couples and 500 sq ft for families which will seem huge compared to how they're living now

It’s a prison. Not a unit.

This is the shame of HK and an accurate reflection of the incompetence of the SAR government. This problem won’t go away just by staring at it and not taking any positive actions.

I just can't continue watching... Heartbreaking

Thank you Yonden for this interview. Please keep this dialogue going. This is a very important topic.

The issue is, is that the problem is NOT insurmountable, the government profits off land taxes, so they keep the price of land artificially high by not rebuilding or building on plots of land that don't have housing.

Disgrace. The hk government owns more than 90 percent of land but keeps housing at crazy prices to protect the rich. HK is a third world country period!

Thank you for producing this documentary! It is not just embarrassing, it’s utterly disgusting to live in such destitute conditions. Hope there is a strong and sustainable will to provide more humane housing to the underprivileged🙏

Hong Kong should build WAY WAY WAY more affordable public housing for the working and middle classes as a national priority project... Even Singapore knows what needs to be done...

The problem in HKG started way before the handover to China. It's an accumulation problem due to capitalism where government sold lands on high price to developer. Hence in order to gain high profits to recover the cost, the developers will keep on launching premium project. It's different from Singapore although the government HDB prices are skyrocketing but it's still affordable comparing to HKG. Need government intervention here to build more public housing support.

The British ruled Hong Kong for 100 years. What did they do for Hongkongers? Instead of looking after the people's interest, they colluded with Hong Kong property developers to keep land prices and property prices high. And where did the profit from land sales go? They were shipped to Britain. After the British "withdrawal" from Hong Kong Legco was dysfunctional; populated by developers' representatives and all attempts to build more public housing sabotaged by repeated impasse. With the internal security law now fully in-place and Legco "righted" to focus on the real needs of the people. Change is coming. New public housing and property laws are being amended to provide a more level playing field. It is a big disappointment that someone who has lived and worked in Hong Kong for decades and chief editor of the SCMP refuses to recognise this. His appearance in the video, his behaviour and the comments he uttered reflects the hypocrisy of his office.

Thank you for this video. It is an eye opener 😢

This is heartbreaking to watch: people living in squalid cages with no hope of getting out of the situation. That’s just depressing. They would be better off living in mainland China.

It is shameful. But my wife’s family lived in a small one room place back when I met her back in 1980 and she was already 19 years of age at that time. Nothing has changed

hongkong public housing is 40 years too late, 20-30 years ago it was a nice place to visit . my last visit about a year ago i felt that hk is really expensive place and i dont think i've enjoyed like the past previous visits. the living expenses are really expensive and crampy food places...

Sze Lai Shan is an amazing human being! Thank her and Yonden Lhatoo for shining a light on HK's darkest problem

Well done Yonden Lhatoo, thank you for the coverage ❤

Hong Kong had so many rich tycoon. If they’re willing to pool their resources together, all the housing problems will be resolved.

Thank you for bringing awareness and sharing

The same thing in Zambia. The kind of student housing being built is horrid. There was a cholera outbreak and foreign students have died because housing isnt well regulated

My heart hurts for humanity 😢

Just being realistic. Without these landlords who subdivided their apartments, these people would be homeless on the street. There's just more demand than supply for housing, and these "slumlords" actually help solve part of the problem at least.

All these were legacy left behind by the British. This is the price of capitalism. Someone made a fortune where the streets were lined with Rolls Royce and the published list of millionaires. This problem is easy to resolve if the local council and government controls rather than allow capitalist to control the government. Supply can be manipulated by the local council. Design, size of apartment, pricing and ownership can be under the control of the local council. Mind set needs to change instead of clinging on to the legacy of British rules, democracy etc. If Macau and Mainland China can do it, why is the tiny population in HK unable!!

*These people are so strong and brave a lot of people in other countries would have given up or died so well done to these HK people* ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you the show and the lady for keep reminding the outside world that their are so many people who need help and support and we should live the ignorance life, be mindful and try our best to improve the society we are living in.

In mainland they have lots of vacant home. It is just no job there. But if all these people willing they can go there and creates local job. Starting with agriculture and goes up to sme businesses that can ship products to other places.

I can’t bare to imagine the smell in a place like that with so many people and little ventilation. Disgusting…

I've been going to Hongkong for over 35 years. Hong Kong under UK rule achieved very little.. now they have a "democracy" yet many live in poverty. Citizens toxicity is at an all time high while nothing has really changed in regards to the infrastructures, ports, housing etc.. Tourism, music, movie, theme park and shopping industries once the leaders in Asia in a thriving city are no longer in the top 10 on any lists of Asia. Just look at Macau, they embraced their overlords and now live in surplus, prosperous lives. You either move forward and work together or get left behind. Ignore the West's media to divide you.

Thank you for bringing this dilapidated living for so many people in HongKong. I see the resilience in the people and also the despair. The government should be ashamed for not taking care of the residents. The living conditions are disgusting!

Excellent reporting. Thank you 👍

Interesting, at least they are indoors, in Canada they would be living in a tent and many do.

Thank you for sharing this.

Happy that some hongkong media start to talk about it. It needs to be solved. We are all human, not animals.

Thank you Yonden

Thank you for making this video and speak up for the unfortunate. Hope the government will build more government housing to accommodate all needed very soon. 🙏✌️❤️

This is the difference between the socialist system of China versus the unbridled capitalism of colonial Hong Kong. Socialism will try to provide for the poorest people while capitalism will let them fall through the cracks and suffer until they die.

Kindda foolish they ask a 7 year old girl her income.

My worry aside from these awful disgraceful living conditions the Government seems not to care about would be fire. It will more than likely be a massive death rate from fire that will move the government to oust such housing. Its a wonder it hasnt happened yet, or has it. It really looks like a death trap these places. I do so feel for these people, its not right and inhuman to have people live like this.

5000HKD??? Why don't they live in Shenzhen and take trains to HK on workdays, it would be cheaper.

Beijing should just fire all the ministers or the officers in charge specially since they cant seem to get their act together and require 26 years to do so. Really....just build buildings which are owned by the state and then either lease it out to those who are already paying the rent. For those who cant afford the rent, then it should be FOC. Deem as a nation looking after their older generation. How difficult can that be.

Eye-opening, heart-breaking😢

Hong Kong need to implement housing that work and they need to follow Singapore how have done great for the low income family to have their own housing ...I think south china morning Post please contact CNA how Singapore have great policy for their housing and I hope this will solve their problem in housing for low income family and single people who needed it ....

What happen if there's fire 🔥..thats scary!

So, the problem is that the slumlord owners are not being charged with their crime. Whoever is charging rent for these is a criminal.

As seen in the above standard home they are charged per person to live there. When better homes are built will the people who live in these cage homes be able to afford these new homes? Or will they be forced to start living in tents and under bridges? And the more affluent citizens who have multiple homes will they step up and offer to house the elderly or families in the "extra" houses that they own? And what kind of idiot asks how much a 7 year old makes, do they expect her to work, and what kind of job do they expect her to do?

As bad as this is, it is much an improvement over the American homeless problems.

Sadly the trend is coming here to the USA. Already people are being conditioned to accept in living in "tiny homes" because affordable housing is becoming unattainable. And some politicians are patting themselves on the back because they provide free tents for the homeless living on sidewalks. It absolutely shameful.

These are a pretty people. I feel so bad for people who have to live like this ❤

For Uncle Leung to have a decent conversation in English, I wonder what he used to do before he landed here.

Actually they can choose Shenzhen for living, 2800/month can rent a big room

Sze is a example of what giving really is. If people knew how much giving feeds the soul their would be waiting lists of people wanting to help their fellow man. ❤

I am not rich but my house in the Philippines has a 10x7x7f" bathroom, 1 - 10x16ft bedroom, and a kitchen with a store.. have a 5x5"cottage inside a 200 sqm lot beachfront... But someone told me that I am a filthy poor Filipino and knowing he has no own house. Lol. ... I hope the people here in HK who live in a coffin house will soon have their own better housing.

Wow, Hong Kong still has this problem after so many years? I thought they would have fixed this by now!

Land Barons! The culprits responsible for housing hardship in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile thousands of apartments sit empty in ghost cities.

Thank you Yonden Lhatoo for reporting Hong Kong appalling housing crisis to bring awareness and many thanks to social worker Sze Lai-shan to help these under privileged people to improve their living conditions.

Absolutely inhumane. Totally unacceptable. Who are the people that treated the people this way? How did the authorities approve for a space to be divided into 14 beds or coffin beds???!!!! Who made this possible. Arrest him and how can proper housing by 2049????? This should be solved maximum 1 year no more than 2 years!

Being one of the wealthiest cities in the world didn't make Hong Kong a nice place.

She is so full of life ❤😊 I hope her life is full of blessings, I know she will share them.

At least they have their friends and families for support. The ones making everyone live poorly are all plotting and scamming each other, even within their own families. Be grateful for your blessings in life.

My friend’s sister offered me a room no bigger than a broom closet for 800.00 Canadian. Lol

How do they maintain the electrical system, plumbings, fire extinguisher, etc?

This is sad and shocking.

Just wow😢🙏🏻Lord please protect these people & help this wonderful lady make progress!

Here we see how pressure from Beijing is helping to improve living conditions for the poor. It's just starting now but Beijing's supervisory role here is more than welcome. I hope the locals recognize this and can appreciate the motherland and central government. Many have been brainwashed over decades by Western anti-China propaganda.

How people procreate under such conditions is mind boggling. 🤔

I only like some of their food but you can now get them in any big cities in the world. Visiting HK is not my dream. Honestly this is very unfair because there are so many wealthy Chinese people and they should help these people living in a cramped place.

these kind of flats are unnacceptable. there should be a price limit on how much landlords can charge for these flats. this is not normal

Singapore did not become well developed overnight. So for HK, my questions would be: 1. What did the British do with such cage-homes housing problem during their rule? Did they care to develop HK for the local people who are not rich? Or, let capitalism run free and everyone for themselves? 2. Was there proper urban and residential planning in HK? Although it is mountainous and have little space in HK island, there is still a lot of space in Kowloon, the New Territories, much bigger than Singapore. Were there any plans to decentralised the financial district and residential areas. In Singapore, there was deliberate policies to decentralise the financial area to remove pressure on the central business district. 3. How much emphasis did the past governments, again during British rule, was placed on home ownership? Was there a strong focus on developing affordable housing for the lower income groups, like what was done in Singapore? The Singapore government vision was for 80% citizens to own housing. It appears now that Beijing is putting pressure to remove undesirable housing in HK which is a positive move to put emphasis and pressure on the current government to think about this issue seriously, on improving housing for its lower income residents.

I have a cousin who married a HK woman. They once lived in a big and comfortable property but it was a bit further out and not in central HK. After a year or so they moved back into a smaller place in central HK because she couldn’t stand to be far out from the centre. That’s the problem with these people, there’s load of space and much cheaper properties outside but they prefer to cramp together living in rabbit cages because they want the convenience of living centrally. This is a problem since British colonial times. People’s mentality have to change first. This is the same all over Asia. Look at Bangkok, Tokyo, Shanghai etc. They can’t stand walking for more than a few minutes in the heat to go anywhere and prefer to live in a tiny cupboard above the shop where everything is close at hand. I’ve heard this from my cousin and various others who married Asians and living in Bangkok etc. They all said the same. This is basically an Asian mentality.

I'm 60, and in my view: With all that we have done as a species, life is harder than ever now...

This is so sad prayers sent

This is the real problem in Hong Kong and not lack of freedom. After 2020 it really made me realize how private developer really controls the narrative by having public support in building so called "luxury flats." But if government wants to build affordable estates, media will always program the public that should not build because of environmental issues or that it will affect the people living there and making the public to force the project scrapped. But the private developers never get this backlash from the people.