Thanks to its lack of land and growing population Hong Kong is now home to one of the least affordable housing markets in the world and with 7.5 million people to home, many of Hong Kong’s poorest are forced to live in so-called ‘coffin cubicles’. These small cubicles often range from 15 to 120-square-feet in size and are tightly packed into bigger buildings with little regard to health and safety.
The United Nations have condemned these cage-like apartments, describing them as “an insult to human dignity,” a statement that rings true in these shocking photos taken by photographer Benny Lam.
Despite the terrible living conditions the Society for Community Organisation estimates that more than 200,000 people still live in an apartment like the ones you see below out of necessity – better housing is to expensive. One example is Wong Tat-ming, 63, who suffers from sclerosis in his leg. Unable to work he is forced to rent an 18-square-feet ‘home’ for around $307 each month. For more information head here.
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