At 5:25 - When I refence 4,000 HKD a month to rent in this tower block (Victoria Towers) this is incorrect! (I made a mistake) The actual price to rent in these buildings is closer to 48,000 HKD or just under £5,000 a month. Sorry for the mistake and thank you to those who have kept me accountable and pointed this out 🙏 Subscribe to see more of my Hong Kong / China adventures! www.youtube.com/@wilkowanders?sub_confirmation=1
I'm happy to see a foreigner who visits HK without too much preconception, and equally happy to see the civilised comments concerning the housing information HK. In summary, HK does have it's housing problems, whilst 35% of housing is subsidised public housing with a rent of about US$300 to US$400, and another 10% housing are subsidised, there are still around 2-3% living in poor conditions awaiting public housing flats. If you're interested in looking into this further, I'm sure you can find some people who would give you a tour of a typical public housing in HK. But hey, you're on a trip, just enjoy your stay and welcome to HK again.
Hi Wilko, it is my first time watching your video. Your view about HK luxurious stores is absolutely right. And thanks for showing concern to the locals who are living in the poor living conditions
To your point about the migrant workers, it’s because helpers have to live with their employers as a condition of employment. Since a lot of homes are small, the helpers don’t want to stay in on their Sunday day off. They prefer to go out to socialise. They can sit at parks but Filipina workers prefer to congregate in central and Indonesians congregate in Victoria Park in causeway bay. Shops selling products for their homeland are usually located nearby.
Hope you feel a lot better in Mainland China (both physically and mentally). Just watched your kunming video and i absolutely loved it ❤ I live in Hong Kong and i guess the reason why you are homesick is partly because hong kong bears some resemblance to uk (of coz due to its colonial background) 🇬🇧 and travelling in hong kong might make you think of london? And perhaps because of the foggy and rainy weather in hong kong these days which might make people feel a bit low? Btw, I really appreciate you are being honest in your video- its definitely okay to be homesick especially when you are travelling alone. Give yourself more rest and it’s perfectly fine not to do any filming and just relax. The real purpose of your trip is to relax and experience! Btw hong kong is a vibrant city and a food heaven! it is better to visit us in spring and autumn- weather is generally more stable and comfortable. Hope you will continue to enjoy the trip in Mainland China! Blessings from Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Thank you for your kind comment and well wishes 🙏 This is true, it was like being in a home away from home in Hong Kong! Thanks for your kind words about making sure I take rest when i need it 💗 I will for sure be back to Hong Kong and in the times you mention for the more comfortable weather 😊
Just binge watched all 3 of your HK videos - love to see someone making an effort to learn about the place they’re in. A point to note, the migrant workers are live-in domestic workers and Sunday is their only day off in the week (except public holidays). So they all congregate outside not necessarily because they have small homes but because it would be weird to stay in their ‘workplace’ (i.e their employer’s home) on a Sunday 😂 Please make more Hong Kong videos! 🇭🇰
Thank you so much for binge-watching the Hong Kong videos and for the insightful comment! 😊 I appreciate the extra info about the migrant workers. I’ll definitely keep making more Hong Kong videos. Stay tuned! 🇭🇰
Hi Wilko, this is my first time to watch your video and I find it is extraordinary. One of the reasons is that you did focus on a lot of local culture as well as the fact, instead of the magnificent view or the palatable food only. It is utterly different from majority of tourists, which I appreciate wholeheartedly. In the following paragraphs, I would like to add some extra information about the housing issue in Hong Kong. As a local secondary school student, I have been educated that the housing crisis in Hong Kong is one of a severe problems and it has been lasting for many decades. Indeed, during the China civil war in 1940s, a large number of refugees flooded in and caused a massive increase in population. In order to solve this problem, the ten-year housing construction plan was officially launched by governor MacLehose. Not only has it provided houses for HKers, but also entertainment. It is also worth mentioning that the Queen Elizabeth the second has visited Oi Man Estate, the largest public housing estate in Kowloon City District, in 1975. Moreover, the ex-governor MacLehose has also launched the Home Ownership Scheme in 1970s. It was intended to provide an alternative for some citizens whose income was insufficient to purchase private housing and who were not eligible (or unwilling) to live in private housing. As a result, many of citizens are benefited from it. As the housing crisis cannot be solved overnight, these policies are of paramount importance to ameliorate this issue. I hope these information would be helpful for you to understand more about the history of this issue. Once again, thank you for your superb video about HK! 🇭🇰 Enjoy your following journey!! ❤ (Pls forgive for my poor English proficiency, I’ve tried my level best
Hi there! Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏 For taking the time to share such insightful information about the housing situation in Hong Kong, I really appreciate this context and your english is great and easy to understand 😁
Welcome to Hong Kong! Really glad you're doing research into the city , and I do resonate with your stress when it comes to accessibility and being stuck - know that you're inspiring many people by showing them different corners of the world! Its alright and very reasonable to take a break, even when travelling. Not sure if its too late but if there is anything you'd like to explore in terms of restaurants / places to go / logistics, 'Humid with a Chance of Fishballs' is a great TH-cam channel that explains authentic eateries but also tidbits of local culture - if you need ideas. All the best and can't wait to hear more about your upcoming journeys!
Next time try to explore HK's public housing (equivalent of UK's council housing). Around 40% of HKers live in public housing/ some kind of housing subsidised by the government so public housing has more representation of how typical HKers live (and much more humane in terms of living conditions) Perhaps recent mass emigration of HKers to the UK, Canada and Australia has relieved the pressure for housing a bit?
I will look into this next time I visit Hong Kong! I did plan to do more exploring but was recovring from food posioning from the country before, so only managed to get out 3 out of 5 days!
@@wilkowanders Before early 2000, public housing was a big part of the housing scene. Even now, a 2 bedroom (~400sqft) public housing flat is probably around £200 / HK$2000 monthly. Which is extremely cheap compared to everything else. Well maintained, very safe (mostly old people now, used to be not as safe when the population were younger). But of course there's not enough supply. And after the crash of housing market around 2003, they build even less. And the income requirement didn't catch up with inflation, then even less people can apply.
For comparison, in Singapore, 85% of the citizen population lives in public housing, but foreigners are not eligible. Hong Kong's percentage is a lot lower.
The information you have regarding housing is mostly correct (aside from some of the prices, as others have mentioned), but is only a part of a fairly complicated big picture. A huge proportion of the population (at least around half) live in some sort of government subsidized housing, because housing is very expensive. However a significant proportion of government revenue comes from auctioning land for development, so the government doesn't want to sell land too cheaply, and ironically keeps property prices high, and it becomes something of a chicken or egg problem. Land is also scarce because of several reasons: 1) Hong Kong is mountainous so lots of land is difficult (and expensive) to develop on, 2) lots of land is earmarked as country parks or nature preserves, 3) developed lands (skyscrapers) have many different owners making redevelopment processes extremely time consuming and expensive, and 4) there's a lot of ancestral lands (from before the colonial era) that the government doesn't have definitive control over. Thus, public housing has a waiting period of something like 5 years, and private landlords pick up the slack by offering these accommodations. Hong Kong is actually a fairly new economy, and was very laissez-faire until the 80s to 90s, and so a lot of welfare systems and financial planning basically didn't exist then (and are still quite conservative today). So a lot of older people whom fortune didn't favor have little choice but to live in these accommodations, along with poor new migrants, and perhaps surprisingly, some younger professionals who just want to spend as little as possible for a few years to save up a down payment.
Thank you for the comment and for sharing some of the complexities of the Hong Kong housing market. I was not aware that half the population live in government-subsided housing. That's a huge number! This is very interesting and I suppose it is a big help in combating the high price of rent for most people. I had heard about this element with regards to the government owning more of the land for development but not wanting to sell too much as it has a negative impact on the market overall, but it is interesting to hear that there are other factors at play here like you mention in your comment. Its really helpful to have this background information so thank you again for sharing and educating me in the process 🙏
The monthly rent for public rental housing is about Hk$2,500 or about GBP250. We also have a subsidized housing system, where apartments are built by the government and sold at. 40-50% discount to market price to eligible HKers subject to income and asset testing,
Hi Wilko !! im local and I love ur video about Hong Kong !! Most people visit the Hong Kong island when they come visit Hong Kong, but I would recommend visiting the Kowloon Penisula / New Territories too !! There may not be crazy sky scrappers or anything as "posh" as in HK island, but more about the cultural side / the more local side of Hong Kong. In comparison, more foreigners like hanging out in HK island than in Kowloon or NT :P For me, Tsim Sha Tsui is more like a mixture of western and the old Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po / Wong Tai Sin would be the more aged part of Hong Kong Also dont miss out the outer islands as well !! Visit Tai O in Lantau Island to feel the sea and what Hong Kong was like hundreds years ago
Hi Tim, Thank you for your comment 🙏 I did want to explore more further afield than HK Island, but I was recovering from food poisoning from my trip to Nepal, so I had to take some rest days whilst in HK! This just means I will have to come back to explore some of these areas 😃 Thank you for the suggestions I have added them to my map for my next trip!
Housing is a big problem in Hong Kong. With 2k pounds monthly median income, a 350-450sq ft small apartment costs 1.2k-1.8k to rent monthly or 400k-700k pounds to buy. Those near the city centre cost even more. Very expensive 😭
16:30 It really depends of where you're from. If you're used to any of the big cities like NY, Tokyo, London, Singapore etc, that's pretty much the same scene with some variance, relatively small and expensive living spaces with huge luxury shopping malls and restaurants for the rich. These places have one thing in common, a group of people can make a lot of money in a short amount of time, extreme cases of capitalism if you will. So if you didn't come from similar cities, you'll find yourself in a parallel universe. On the other hand, people living in these cities would go to relatively secluded places and resorts for vacation to get away from it all, and the wealthier ones probably have homes in the suburbs all over the world.
Thanks for your comment, It's a good point, We do have luxury shops in the city I am from (Manchester, UK) but I have not seen malls which are all just luxury shops before like this, which as you say is reflective of the wealth in the city.
Lovely that you got the research of the city not only just sightseeing around！ The contrast of everything is indeeded to be so huge in local lifestyles, wealthness, political stands, self identity etc especially after Hong Kong returning to Chinese sovereignty, social movements and the unfair laws established. Tbh ‘the golden decades’ here in hong kong has already passed. That was the 80s and 90s, when the film and music industries were massive and influential to the whole Asia. For western foreigners, that was the time when Bruces Lee and Jackie Chan were dominating as the Kung Fu asian in movies. Anyway, people still love the city and its heritage, we try our best to live here in a good way. Hope you enjoy your trip here mate！
Btw, i would recomend you to go visit some islands and rural places when you come to hk next time. Hk is well known for having incredible urban and rural sides in such a small city. Besides, not recommending to travel here in springs or summer which is always so hot, extremely humid,😅 and having rain storms and typhoons sometimes.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I really appreciate you sharing your experience in Hong Kong and hearing about the golden decades and how the city has evolved. The islands are on my list for my next visit, I was still recoving from some food posisoing when I was in Hong Kong this time so only managed to get out a couple of days to explore and needed to rest too! Appreciate the tip about avoiding the heat and storms too! Thanks again for watching :)
I used to live in HK for few years way before Covid, and now since it reopened I go there twice a year, it’s home away from home to me. Easy to move around m, good food , and there are options for all budgets.
You are not only a traveller but also a social explorer😊Hong Kong ranks relatively high on the World Gini Coefficient Index, 51.8 in 2019(sorry I don't have the latest figure). Hong Kong is a mall city, the developer's building philiosophy is a MTR station down under with a big mall above it, then above the mall are either residential blocks or a commercial building; in some areas where malls are even linked up by air conditioned footbridges and one wouldn't get wet in rainny days. Same as the peak view of the city, The Symphony of Light performed at 8pm every night at the Avenue of Stars is definitely not to be missed( there are videos of it on the youtube channels). Last but not the least, wish you fully recover from food poisoning soonest for your ongoing journeys! Tips: next time come to Hong Kong in november till january of the year to avoid the heat & humid!
Thanks for your comment and sharing the coefficient index (learnt something new here) I did not get to see the light show! That sounds like a reason to come back and I will for sure be back in a cooler period as that heat was too much 😅 Thank you so much for your kind words and wishing me a speedy recovery!
Re the "migrants day", the vast majority of them are Filipino or Indonesian. They are "domestic helpers" who basically live with their employers and iirc they cannot stay in by law on their day off because of the possibility of conflating their work and holiday. Lots of people criticize the fact that they have to live with their employers, but that (and that they don't have some place they can congregate) comes back to Hong Kong's land shortage problem. First there are some 500k domestic helpers in HK so it would be difficult for any city (let alone a compact place like Hong Kong) to find some place where they can all congregate. Second, they don't have to spend money on housing, food, or utilities, so they can retain much more of their income. If it was mandated that they had to go home every day, some combination of the following would occur: 1) they would live in the cheapest accommodations possible a la cage homes, 2) the cost would disincentivize them from working in Hong Kong, or 3) it would become cost prohibitive for many Hong Kongers from hiring them. Housing costs would undoubtedly rise for everyone if an extra 500k tenants appeared, and landlords will be the only ones to benefit. Obviously the current arrangement is attractive enough that 500k of them think it is worthwhile, but it could always change in the future.
Thanks for the comment and for providing this extra context, I had never considered it from the perspective of 500k extra people looking for accommodation vs them living with their employers and the impact this would have the housing system already! I suppose in one sense its a really efficient way of ensuring people are close to where they work / less impact on transport network daily and reduces the amount of spare rooms in properties when there are so many people looking for somewhere to live!
A weird tangential observation is how modern family-sized apartments include a storage room just barely enough for a single bed - essentially a room for a domestic helper as culturally and climate-wise we don't really "store" things in a storage room.
Hong Kong is still vivid as before. Of course, some hongkongers say HK has died because of freedom and political issues. It is because these people are living in their own dream homes. Hong Kong doesn't run as what they think. How poor they are!😢
Just want to let you know 190 HKD is not necessarily pricey, but it was expensive. Mainly because its a dim sum restaurant, they charge you for service fee and a tea (table) fee on top of the food. You can find the same kind of food elsewhere like Tong Kee Bao Dim (trust me, you'll see it) for a lot less. Enjoy your stay in Hong Kong.
Thanks for your comment, Ah this is interesting I did not know about the service fee and table tea (table) fee - I thought it was generous getting that jug of tea for free! Oh wow, thanks, Ive added that place to my map for the next visit to Hong Kong
I hope your getting better🥹drink more water and take some rest when you feel you need it🫂we all need to take care of ourselves when we are exploring the world
4000HKD is def not enough to rent an apartment in HK, I guess your information was slightly off. On avg the rent for a one bedroom apartment is 10- 15k, while these cages would be around 2k. Still it’s a good exp to see the other side of HK, knowing the stories of those struggling in this expensive place!
About the migrant workers, as a hong konger i do feel that it is very sad that they work for their employers for 6 days a week and can't even have a proper space to socialize with their friends. Also they don't get paid as other workers in Hong Kong. I think it is actually another kind of modern slavery.
Thank you for your comment, Its an interesting point that you raise, I have seen some videos about how the migrant workers have been a key to Hong Kong's success and growth due to their service and the impact that has in the area. Therefore its interesting that they are paid below minimum wage (from what I understand)
They don't get the same wages / benefits / protection as the rest of us locals do from the labour laws, but technically some of them get to live in more well-off apartments / areas that most of us would never afford, but hey it's never a balanced equation. It's capitalism. I blame the invisible hand.
Those modern slaves know how much money they send back to their home countries which is equivalent to the salary of a bank manager in the Philippines. Without that high comparative salary they would not move and work in HK.
USD 1million for a 200 sq feet flat, no parking, no garden, no nothing, come to live in Hong Kong. Take your husband/wife and young kids with you, try, I dare all of you.
HK is a big city like other big cities like London, New York, LA in the world....where expenses are high! Although cage homes are small, at least people have their shelters and to be honest I guess they are still luckier than those homeless people in other big cities!
Really enjoyed the video and im honestly not trying to pick an argument but when you confidently pointed at the building at 5.25 and put on screen that they would cost around 4,000 HKD per month that is literal disinformation and not helpful given the theme of the video. Its Victoria towers 3 and Iive there - I pay 48000 HKD a month - so you were out by a factor of 12. Its not 400 gbp per month its just under 5000 gbp per month. There are NO modern condos of any size anywhere in HK that cost 4000 hkd a month - zero - they don't exist. There is gov public housing that looks nothing like the building behind you and that's subsidised and costs from 4,761 hkd per month for the smallest basic unit.
Thank you for watching the video and your comment. I have gone back and checked the map from where I was filming and I have got confused here with the rents and the buildings! My intent was not to provide misinformation here, this is a genuine mistake. You're absolutely right, and I should have done a more thorough check before making that claim about the rents for that particular building. I have updated the information in the description and added a pinned comment to avoid any confusion for people watching. Thanks again for your understanding and for helping keep the content accurate. Your feedback has helped me to ensure I double-check things in the future.
We cannot say this is dark side of HK, better say it is another side. Every country or city have their another side. Also there are many reasons behind why these ppl living in such environment. One thing you should know is the so called "dark side' areas are quite safe in here, not like those western cities so dangerous, right?! Anyway, HK gov't is now trying very hard to improve the situation, but it cannot be done it in one day ! And the tour to visit these areas is a good experience, but it is also a normal situation all over the world, just different presentation.
It may be common, but definitely not normal. It is not even up to the basic living environment a human should have. Not just cage homes, many many many people live in subdivided homes. Real estate tycoons are ripping off hong kong people with their super expensive apartments. They would rather build luxurious buildings, charge high price and leave them empty because no one can afford than build something more humble and affordable
I took the phrase from the name of the tour i booked. It was good to get a deeper understanding about the complexities in the Hong Kong housing market and how the city has offered a solution. I agree, in Hong Kong I felt very safe in all areas! I'm interested to learn more about how this is in other cities too as I continue to travel!
Try to hook up with some people in your next destinations, even people via utube who are locals and willing to show you around? May be it will lessen your homesick and have someone friendly looking out for you. Take care
There're cage homes in Hong Kong for at least half century, the British colonial govt had no intentin to solve this problem. After Hong Kong was returned to China, the HK govt suggest a bold plan to solve it. But every time the govt have a great plan to build more houses and lowering the house price, there would be a serious anti-govt movement, in the name of democracy and freedom of course. The CIA and the big real estate developer Li Ka Shing funded it. The govt solved these problem makers in around 2021-2022, and the housing problem will very possibly disappear in the future. You have to remember the name of Li Ka Shing. If he or his sons invest in your country , you have to be alert. They are bad eggs.
Its an interesting point, I suppose it will give more secruity as an option for people and does provide a low cost space. I found it interesting how the homeless numbers seemed low as a % of population in Hong Kong and maybe this is why?
At 5:25 - When I refence 4,000 HKD a month to rent in this tower block (Victoria Towers) this is incorrect! (I made a mistake)
The actual price to rent in these buildings is closer to 48,000 HKD or just under £5,000 a month.
Sorry for the mistake and thank you to those who have kept me accountable and pointed this out 🙏
Subscribe to see more of my Hong Kong / China adventures!
www.youtube.com/@wilkowanders?sub_confirmation=1
I'm happy to see a foreigner who visits HK without too much preconception, and equally happy to see the civilised comments concerning the housing information HK. In summary, HK does have it's housing problems, whilst 35% of housing is subsidised public housing with a rent of about US$300 to US$400, and another 10% housing are subsidised, there are still around 2-3% living in poor conditions awaiting public housing flats.
If you're interested in looking into this further, I'm sure you can find some people who would give you a tour of a typical public housing in HK. But hey, you're on a trip, just enjoy your stay and welcome to HK again.
70% of housing in HK is government subsidied in one form or another.
Amazing videos, not just focusing on food and tourist places but the building structures and heritages
thank you 😊
Hi Wilko, it is my first time watching your video. Your view about HK luxurious stores is absolutely right. And thanks for showing concern to the locals who are living in the poor living conditions
Thanks for watching!
To your point about the migrant workers, it’s because helpers have to live with their employers as a condition of employment. Since a lot of homes are small, the helpers don’t want to stay in on their Sunday day off. They prefer to go out to socialise. They can sit at parks but Filipina workers prefer to congregate in central and Indonesians congregate in Victoria Park in causeway bay. Shops selling products for their homeland are usually located nearby.
Thank you for your context on this 🙏
This makes sense
I just binge-watched your 3 HK videos and really like your honest opinion of HK
Thank you so much 🙏
Hope you feel a lot better in Mainland China (both physically and mentally). Just watched your kunming video and i absolutely loved it ❤ I live in Hong Kong and i guess the reason why you are homesick is partly because hong kong bears some resemblance to uk (of coz due to its colonial background) 🇬🇧 and travelling in hong kong might make you think of london? And perhaps because of the foggy and rainy weather in hong kong these days which might make people feel a bit low? Btw, I really appreciate you are being honest in your video- its definitely okay to be homesick especially when you are travelling alone. Give yourself more rest and it’s perfectly fine not to do any filming and just relax. The real purpose of your trip is to relax and experience! Btw hong kong is a vibrant city and a food heaven! it is better to visit us in spring and autumn- weather is generally more stable and comfortable. Hope you will continue to enjoy the trip in Mainland China! Blessings from Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Thank you for your kind comment and well wishes 🙏
This is true, it was like being in a home away from home in Hong Kong! Thanks for your kind words about making sure I take rest when i need it 💗
I will for sure be back to Hong Kong and in the times you mention for the more comfortable weather 😊
appreciated that you really exploring Hong Kong to everyone! thank you for telling people the other side of Hong Kong!
Thank you so much! ☺️
Just binge watched all 3 of your HK videos - love to see someone making an effort to learn about the place they’re in.
A point to note, the migrant workers are live-in domestic workers and Sunday is their only day off in the week (except public holidays). So they all congregate outside not necessarily because they have small homes but because it would be weird to stay in their ‘workplace’ (i.e their employer’s home) on a Sunday 😂
Please make more Hong Kong videos! 🇭🇰
Hope you feel better and rest well 😊
Thank you so much for binge-watching the Hong Kong videos and for the insightful comment! 😊 I appreciate the extra info about the migrant workers. I’ll definitely keep making more Hong Kong videos. Stay tuned! 🇭🇰
Thank you 🙏
Hi Wilko, this is my first time to watch your video and I find it is extraordinary. One of the reasons is that you did focus on a lot of local culture as well as the fact, instead of the magnificent view or the palatable food only. It is utterly different from majority of tourists, which I appreciate wholeheartedly. In the following paragraphs, I would like to add some extra information about the housing issue in Hong Kong.
As a local secondary school student, I have been educated that the housing crisis in Hong Kong is one of a severe problems and it has been lasting for many decades. Indeed, during the China civil war in 1940s, a large number of refugees flooded in and caused a massive increase in population. In order to solve this problem, the ten-year housing construction plan was officially launched by governor MacLehose. Not only has it provided houses for HKers, but also entertainment. It is also worth mentioning that the Queen Elizabeth the second has visited Oi Man Estate, the largest public housing estate in Kowloon City District, in 1975.
Moreover, the ex-governor MacLehose has also launched the Home Ownership Scheme in 1970s. It was intended to provide an alternative for some citizens whose income was insufficient to purchase private housing and who were not eligible (or unwilling) to live in private housing. As a result, many of citizens are benefited from it.
As the housing crisis cannot be solved overnight, these policies are of paramount importance to ameliorate this issue. I hope these information would be helpful for you to understand more about the history of this issue.
Once again, thank you for your superb video about HK! 🇭🇰 Enjoy your following journey!! ❤
(Pls forgive for my poor English proficiency, I’ve tried my level best
Hi there! Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏
For taking the time to share such insightful information about the housing situation in Hong Kong, I really appreciate this context and your english is great and easy to understand 😁
Those fancy apartment in tsim sha tsui are actually closer to USD4000 a month
Thanks for your comment! Wow, the cost of living in Hong Kong is eye watering
@@wilkowandersbut the food from restaurants are cheaper than the UK. If u aren’t eating too expensive it is just like HKD50
Welcome to Hong Kong! Really glad you're doing research into the city , and I do resonate with your stress when it comes to accessibility and being stuck - know that you're inspiring many people by showing them different corners of the world!
Its alright and very reasonable to take a break, even when travelling.
Not sure if its too late but if there is anything you'd like to explore in terms of restaurants / places to go / logistics, 'Humid with a Chance of Fishballs' is a great TH-cam channel that explains authentic eateries but also tidbits of local culture - if you need ideas.
All the best and can't wait to hear more about your upcoming journeys!
Thank you for your comment, and your kind comment about needing to take a break. Oh thanks for the recommendation, I have subscribed to learn more 🙏
Next time try to explore HK's public housing (equivalent of UK's council housing).
Around 40% of HKers live in public housing/ some kind of housing subsidised by the government so public housing has more representation of how typical HKers live (and much more humane in terms of living conditions)
Perhaps recent mass emigration of HKers to the UK, Canada and Australia has relieved the pressure for housing a bit?
I will look into this next time I visit Hong Kong!
I did plan to do more exploring but was recovring from food posioning from the country before, so only managed to get out 3 out of 5 days!
@@wilkowanders Before early 2000, public housing was a big part of the housing scene. Even now, a 2 bedroom (~400sqft) public housing flat is probably around £200 / HK$2000 monthly. Which is extremely cheap compared to everything else. Well maintained, very safe (mostly old people now, used to be not as safe when the population were younger).
But of course there's not enough supply. And after the crash of housing market around 2003, they build even less. And the income requirement didn't catch up with inflation, then even less people can apply.
For comparison, in Singapore, 85% of the citizen population lives in public housing, but foreigners are not eligible. Hong Kong's percentage is a lot lower.
The information you have regarding housing is mostly correct (aside from some of the prices, as others have mentioned), but is only a part of a fairly complicated big picture. A huge proportion of the population (at least around half) live in some sort of government subsidized housing, because housing is very expensive. However a significant proportion of government revenue comes from auctioning land for development, so the government doesn't want to sell land too cheaply, and ironically keeps property prices high, and it becomes something of a chicken or egg problem.
Land is also scarce because of several reasons: 1) Hong Kong is mountainous so lots of land is difficult (and expensive) to develop on, 2) lots of land is earmarked as country parks or nature preserves, 3) developed lands (skyscrapers) have many different owners making redevelopment processes extremely time consuming and expensive, and 4) there's a lot of ancestral lands (from before the colonial era) that the government doesn't have definitive control over.
Thus, public housing has a waiting period of something like 5 years, and private landlords pick up the slack by offering these accommodations. Hong Kong is actually a fairly new economy, and was very laissez-faire until the 80s to 90s, and so a lot of welfare systems and financial planning basically didn't exist then (and are still quite conservative today). So a lot of older people whom fortune didn't favor have little choice but to live in these accommodations, along with poor new migrants, and perhaps surprisingly, some younger professionals who just want to spend as little as possible for a few years to save up a down payment.
Thank you for the comment and for sharing some of the complexities of the Hong Kong housing market. I was not aware that half the population live in government-subsided housing. That's a huge number! This is very interesting and I suppose it is a big help in combating the high price of rent for most people.
I had heard about this element with regards to the government owning more of the land for development but not wanting to sell too much as it has a negative impact on the market overall, but it is interesting to hear that there are other factors at play here like you mention in your comment.
Its really helpful to have this background information so thank you again for sharing and educating me in the process 🙏
The monthly rent for public rental housing is about Hk$2,500 or about GBP250. We also have a subsidized housing system, where apartments are built by the government and sold at. 40-50% discount to market price to eligible HKers subject to income and asset testing,
you doing pretty good :) don't so hard on yourself >< stay strong :)
Thank you so much! :)
Welcome to HK! Like yr observation and very detailed description which make yr video pretty enjoyable! Will subscribe and follow you! 😊
Awesome, thank you!
Hi Wilko !! im local and I love ur video about Hong Kong !!
Most people visit the Hong Kong island when they come visit Hong Kong, but I would recommend visiting the Kowloon Penisula / New Territories too !! There may not be crazy sky scrappers or anything as "posh" as in HK island, but more about the cultural side / the more local side of Hong Kong. In comparison, more foreigners like hanging out in HK island than in Kowloon or NT :P
For me, Tsim Sha Tsui is more like a mixture of western and the old Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po / Wong Tai Sin would be the more aged part of Hong Kong
Also dont miss out the outer islands as well !! Visit Tai O in Lantau Island to feel the sea and what Hong Kong was like hundreds years ago
Hi Tim, Thank you for your comment 🙏
I did want to explore more further afield than HK Island, but I was recovering from food poisoning from my trip to Nepal, so I had to take some rest days whilst in HK!
This just means I will have to come back to explore some of these areas 😃
Thank you for the suggestions I have added them to my map for my next trip!
Please go to TKO it’s very Morden or go to somewhere farther in HK because there will be more malls still crowded but less crowded.
Thank you for the recommendation 🙏
@@wilkowanders
Housing is a big problem in Hong Kong. With 2k pounds monthly median income, a 350-450sq ft small apartment costs 1.2k-1.8k to rent monthly or 400k-700k pounds to buy. Those near the city centre cost even more. Very expensive 😭
Wow, It really is expensive, It must be so hard for people to get onto the property ladder there!
16:30 It really depends of where you're from. If you're used to any of the big cities like NY, Tokyo, London, Singapore etc, that's pretty much the same scene with some variance, relatively small and expensive living spaces with huge luxury shopping malls and restaurants for the rich. These places have one thing in common, a group of people can make a lot of money in a short amount of time, extreme cases of capitalism if you will. So if you didn't come from similar cities, you'll find yourself in a parallel universe.
On the other hand, people living in these cities would go to relatively secluded places and resorts for vacation to get away from it all, and the wealthier ones probably have homes in the suburbs all over the world.
Thanks for your comment,
It's a good point, We do have luxury shops in the city I am from (Manchester, UK) but I have not seen malls which are all just luxury shops before like this, which as you say is reflective of the wealth in the city.
The IFC mall is the hong kong Canary Wharf
It very much is!
Oh no you missed the signature dim sum in Tim Ho Wan - barbecued pork bun. That’s the BEST! Commented from a HK local lol
Oh dam! I think this just means I need to come back to Hong Kong again right? 🤔😋
@@wilkowanders yes you should lol
Lovely that you got the research of the city not only just sightseeing around！
The contrast of everything is indeeded to be so huge in local lifestyles, wealthness, political stands, self identity etc especially after Hong Kong returning to Chinese sovereignty, social movements and the unfair laws established.
Tbh ‘the golden decades’ here in hong kong has already passed. That was the 80s and 90s, when the film and music industries were massive and influential to the whole Asia. For western foreigners, that was the time when Bruces Lee and Jackie Chan were dominating as the Kung Fu asian in movies.
Anyway, people still love the city and its heritage, we try our best to live here in a good way. Hope you enjoy your trip here mate！
Btw, i would recomend you to go visit some islands and rural places when you come to hk next time. Hk is well known for having incredible urban and rural sides in such a small city. Besides, not recommending to travel here in springs or summer which is always so hot, extremely humid,😅 and having rain storms and typhoons sometimes.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I really appreciate you sharing your experience in Hong Kong and hearing about the golden decades and how the city has evolved.
The islands are on my list for my next visit, I was still recoving from some food posisoing when I was in Hong Kong this time so only managed to get out a couple of days to explore and needed to rest too!
Appreciate the tip about avoiding the heat and storms too!
Thanks again for watching :)
香港理想的天氣.在秋.冬.季節.🎉
谢谢，很高兴知道！
I used to live in HK for few years way before Covid, and now since it reopened I go there twice a year, it’s home away from home to me. Easy to move around m, good food , and there are options for all budgets.
Thanks for sharing! It’s great to hear that Hong Kong still feels like a home away from home for you.
The appeal of shopping malls isn't luxury shops, it's the air con 😂
You should go to Hong Kong Disney Land
I would love to visit Disney land there!
You have to travel to Lantau Island or go hiking
It is so amazing to enjoy real Hong Kong......
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely consider adding them to my itinerary. Appreciate the recommendation!
HK may not be the best place for living but it absolutely the best place to enjoy different delicious cuisine
You are not only a traveller but also a social explorer😊Hong Kong ranks relatively high on the World Gini Coefficient Index, 51.8 in 2019(sorry I don't have the latest figure). Hong Kong is a mall city, the developer's building philiosophy is a MTR station down under with a big mall above it, then above the mall are either residential blocks or a commercial building; in some areas where malls are even linked up by air conditioned footbridges and one wouldn't get wet in rainny days.
Same as the peak view of the city,
The Symphony of Light performed at 8pm every night at the Avenue of Stars is definitely not to be missed( there are videos of it on the youtube channels).
Last but not the least, wish you fully recover from food poisoning soonest for your ongoing journeys!
Tips: next time come to Hong Kong in november till january of the year to avoid the heat & humid!
Thanks for your comment and sharing the coefficient index
(learnt something new here)
I did not get to see the light show! That sounds like a reason to come back and I will for sure be back in a cooler period as that heat was too much 😅
Thank you so much for your kind words and wishing me a speedy recovery!
Re the "migrants day", the vast majority of them are Filipino or Indonesian. They are "domestic helpers" who basically live with their employers and iirc they cannot stay in by law on their day off because of the possibility of conflating their work and holiday. Lots of people criticize the fact that they have to live with their employers, but that (and that they don't have some place they can congregate) comes back to Hong Kong's land shortage problem. First there are some 500k domestic helpers in HK so it would be difficult for any city (let alone a compact place like Hong Kong) to find some place where they can all congregate. Second, they don't have to spend money on housing, food, or utilities, so they can retain much more of their income. If it was mandated that they had to go home every day, some combination of the following would occur: 1) they would live in the cheapest accommodations possible a la cage homes, 2) the cost would disincentivize them from working in Hong Kong, or 3) it would become cost prohibitive for many Hong Kongers from hiring them. Housing costs would undoubtedly rise for everyone if an extra 500k tenants appeared, and landlords will be the only ones to benefit.
Obviously the current arrangement is attractive enough that 500k of them think it is worthwhile, but it could always change in the future.
Thanks for the comment and for providing this extra context, I had never considered it from the perspective of 500k extra people looking for accommodation vs them living with their employers and the impact this would have the housing system already!
I suppose in one sense its a really efficient way of ensuring people are close to where they work / less impact on transport network daily and reduces the amount of spare rooms in properties when there are so many people looking for somewhere to live!
A weird tangential observation is how modern family-sized apartments include a storage room just barely enough for a single bed - essentially a room for a domestic helper as culturally and climate-wise we don't really "store" things in a storage room.
Hong Kong is still vivid as before. Of course, some hongkongers say HK has died because of freedom and political issues. It is because these people are living in their own dream homes. Hong Kong doesn't run as what they think. How poor they are!😢
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
nice, enjoyed this video
Glad you enjoyed
Just want to let you know 190 HKD is not necessarily pricey, but it was expensive. Mainly because its a dim sum restaurant, they charge you for service fee and a tea (table) fee on top of the food. You can find the same kind of food elsewhere like Tong Kee Bao Dim (trust me, you'll see it) for a lot less. Enjoy your stay in Hong Kong.
Thanks for your comment, Ah this is interesting I did not know about the service fee and table tea (table) fee - I thought it was generous getting that jug of tea for free!
Oh wow, thanks, Ive added that place to my map for the next visit to Hong Kong
To foster your physical health and energy, do take vitamins and sufficient water.
Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely keep that in mind.
I hope your getting better🥹drink more water and take some rest when you feel you need it🫂we all need to take care of ourselves when we are exploring the world
Thank you so much! ☺️
4000HKD is def not enough to rent an apartment in HK, I guess your information was slightly off. On avg the rent for a one bedroom apartment is 10- 15k, while these cages would be around 2k. Still it’s a good exp to see the other side of HK, knowing the stories of those struggling in this expensive place!
Oh wow, thanks for the info!
😅 yes add a 0
About the migrant workers, as a hong konger i do feel that it is very sad that they work for their employers for 6 days a week and can't even have a proper space to socialize with their friends. Also they don't get paid as other workers in Hong Kong. I think it is actually another kind of modern slavery.
Thank you for your comment, Its an interesting point that you raise, I have seen some videos about how the migrant workers have been a key to Hong Kong's success and growth due to their service and the impact that has in the area. Therefore its interesting that they are paid below minimum wage (from what I understand)
They don't get the same wages / benefits / protection as the rest of us locals do from the labour laws, but technically some of them get to live in more well-off apartments / areas that most of us would never afford, but hey it's never a balanced equation. It's capitalism. I blame the invisible hand.
Those modern slaves know how much money they send back to their home countries which is equivalent to the salary of a bank manager in the Philippines. Without that high comparative salary they would not move and work in HK.
Wow, interesting to see such kind of homes.
because hk is so small place,the rent is very expensive
Hope you feel better soon ;(
Thank you 🙏
USD 1million for a 200 sq feet flat, no parking, no garden, no nothing, come to live in Hong Kong. Take your husband/wife and young kids with you, try, I dare all of you.
Wow, thanks for sharing, It is a difficult market for property for sure!
yeah those fancy apartments in the background when you're talking in Kowloon Park; costs about $14000HKD a month
Thanks for your comment! Wow, the cost of living in Hong Kong is eye watering
@@sethlau8758 It's Victoria Towers 3, I live there, it's 48000k a month. He was out by a factor of 12
HK is a big city like other big cities like London, New York, LA in the world....where expenses are high! Although cage homes are small, at least people have their shelters and to be honest I guess they are still luckier than those homeless people in other big cities!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Really enjoyed the video and im honestly not trying to pick an argument but when you confidently pointed at the building at 5.25 and put on screen that they would cost around 4,000 HKD per month that is literal disinformation and not helpful given the theme of the video.
Its Victoria towers 3 and Iive there - I pay 48000 HKD a month - so you were out by a factor of 12.
Its not 400 gbp per month its just under 5000 gbp per month.
There are NO modern condos of any size anywhere in HK that cost 4000 hkd a month - zero - they don't exist.
There is gov public housing that looks nothing like the building behind you and that's subsidised and costs from 4,761 hkd per month for the smallest basic unit.
Thank you for watching the video and your comment.
I have gone back and checked the map from where I was filming and I have got confused here with the rents and the buildings! My intent was not to provide misinformation here, this is a genuine mistake.
You're absolutely right, and I should have done a more thorough check before making that claim about the rents for that particular building.
I have updated the information in the description and added a pinned comment to avoid any confusion for people watching.
Thanks again for your understanding and for helping keep the content accurate. Your feedback has helped me to ensure I double-check things in the future.
You have to go to ocean park it’s better than disneyland
Thanks for the suggestion!
As a resident of Hong Kong,I believe that we should be ashamed of the presence of cage houses in such a well-developing city
It surly is not something people would aspire to, but I suppose others say it is also better for people to have this, than to be homeless?
@@wilkowanders Yes, but I think sub-divided flats may be better than cage houses.However,the living conditions in the flats is still very bad
I am feeling ashame too
No, a lot of people prefer to live on the streets then paying those expensive rents
We cannot say this is dark side of HK, better say it is another side. Every country or city have their another side. Also there are many reasons behind why these ppl living in such environment. One thing you should know is the so called "dark side' areas are quite safe in here, not like those western cities so dangerous, right?! Anyway, HK gov't is now trying very hard to improve the situation, but it cannot be done it in one day ! And the tour to visit these areas is a good experience, but it is also a normal situation all over the world, just different presentation.
It may be common, but definitely not normal. It is not even up to the basic living environment a human should have. Not just cage homes, many many many people live in subdivided homes. Real estate tycoons are ripping off hong kong people with their super expensive apartments. They would rather build luxurious buildings, charge high price and leave them empty because no one can afford than build something more humble and affordable
What's wrong to say it's the dark side? Don't be so sensitive.
I took the phrase from the name of the tour i booked.
It was good to get a deeper understanding about the complexities in the Hong Kong housing market and how the city has offered a solution.
I agree, in Hong Kong I felt very safe in all areas!
I'm interested to learn more about how this is in other cities too as I continue to travel!
I think it was long time ago now we don't have cage homes
Try to hook up with some people in your next destinations, even people via utube who are locals and willing to show you around? May be it will lessen your homesick and have someone friendly looking out for you. Take care
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll keep that in mind for my upcoming destinations. Appreciate the support-take care!
I hope you will come to macau also haha
I was planning to visit Macau but I was not feeling well enough to travel that day! I will have to come back and visit next time 😃
Actually not a lot of hk ppl are living in "cages". Probably in hundreds in a city of more than 7m ppl.
that is the famous cageman of hk
There're cage homes in Hong Kong for at least half century, the British colonial govt had no intentin to solve this problem.
After Hong Kong was returned to China, the HK govt suggest a bold plan to solve it. But every time the govt have a great plan to build more houses and lowering the house price, there would be a serious anti-govt movement, in the name of democracy and freedom of course. The CIA and the big real estate developer Li Ka Shing funded it. The govt solved these problem makers in around 2021-2022, and the housing problem will very possibly disappear in the future.
You have to remember the name of Li Ka Shing. If he or his sons invest in your country , you have to be alert. They are bad eggs.
HK的房地产算是整个东亚比较极端的，不过其他地方包括CN大部分地区也有向着这方向的趋势。看完心里很难受，相当大部分的普通人努力工作就为了那一小间房，房价高还并不是因为人多地少，而是政府不愿意管控肆意让地产商发展的结果。原因还是地产和地方经济严重挂钩，每年都会新建非常多的住房，同时也会拆除很多，以至于中国人都把“住房70年产权”当个笑话；我们都将那样的住宅楼称为“鸽笼”。作为工薪阶层的普通人，没法改变这种局面，甚至没法逃避，想起来很绝望的，一生里挣的钱有相当大一部分都只是为了一个房子
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Hong Kong is so many small cage with in a large cage …..
🙏🏻💛
Better than live on the street in western countries
Hi🙋🏻♀️💪🦾💪🏻🙏
Cage homes are for very poor people.
Case home which is better than homeless 😂
Its an interesting point,
I suppose it will give more secruity as an option for people and does provide a low cost space.
I found it interesting how the homeless numbers seemed low as a % of population in Hong Kong and maybe this is why?
:)