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54 Comments
- EliteBeat, on 10/30/2009, -0/+16I should build my own cage apartment building in Hong Kong. I would lord over my people well and they would love me for it.
- borez, on 10/29/2009, -0/+15Good lord, I'd go insane.
- twiztidsinz, on 10/29/2009, -0/+15Like finding a job?
"Chung used to be a security guard. In the good old days he earned about $500 (HK$3,875) per month. But as the economic crisis set in, his full time job went to part time work until he was laid off this past summer."
I'm sure the fact that he's 67 years old doesn't help his employment prospects too... - TheScreamer, on 10/29/2009, -3/+17"one guy has an aquarium in his cage"... you can bet it's not for decoration ;)
- MotoFly, on 10/29/2009, -0/+11Saving money means living with a roommate or two until you can afford a place of your own. These people are impoverished.
- kinsider, on 10/29/2009, -0/+10because it's that easy when you don't have a job and have very little skills in a city which has been one of the hardest hit by the financial collapse?
- costumemaker, on 10/29/2009, -1/+11Holy *****. I have heard it all now. You are actually defending the fact that 18 people forced to be living together in a 650 sq ft apartment when its 96 degrees outside as a good thing? You do realize that unless you are wealthy that the odds are you would be one of those people too if you lived there right?
These are average working class people. These aren't the scum of the earth. You sit there in your apartment/room/house whatever completely ignorant of the fact that you are absolutely ***** lucky to be there. Most of the people in the world live in ***** poverty and you are one lucky bastard that you weren't born in these places. Instead of recognizing that, you act like you are king *****. If you think it's so great, I dare you to live there for a year. Go there and work. I ***** dare you. Of course you won't though because your mouth is much bigger than the tiny shriviled bit of humanitarian pride that exists in you. - Nairebis, on 10/29/2009, -4/+13I could live in a small space like that, but I couldn't live in that filth. Sheesh. Just because you're poor doesn't mean you can't clean the damn bathroom. If the place was clean it wouldn't be so bad.
- cuevas4711, on 10/29/2009, -2/+10Would "Liberals" also complain that living on the streets is not right? Would "conservatives" say that the owner is just making maximum profit?
- mattmeow, on 10/30/2009, -0/+7I actually have seen something similar here in the U.S. I once took part in an aid program for immigrants in Chicago. I specifically remember one building that had an immigrant family of at least 15 living in one little apartment. I think this is more common than most people realize even here at home. Someone living in the slums around Mumbai might even consider these Hong Kong apartments to be pretty nice. We should all realize how lucky we are.
- cuevas4711, on 10/29/2009, -0/+6There was a guy in there that was 90...
- kaelyiesta, on 10/29/2009, -1/+7100/150 a month is not similar to large us cities. The cheapest I paid in the worst place in seattle was 300 when I was in college. Even so, I think a slightly more accurate representation would be to compare the cost to their income: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_household_inco ...
Seems like these are very cheap based on median wages. - bootie, on 10/29/2009, -2/+8Ever see a NYC efficiency? case closed.
- smemily, on 10/30/2009, -1/+6I can't wait for not-being-an-***** to be cool again.
- GnomeProfit, on 10/29/2009, -2/+7No, conservatives would say the people need to find Jesus, it's their on fault for sucking so much, and that gang rape is good.
- EliteBeat, on 10/30/2009, -0/+5imagine bringing a woman home to that
- costumemaker, on 10/30/2009, -1/+5""not-being-an-*****" doesn't pay off your credit card debt"
Being one doesn't help though. If you want to be a complete 'me me me me ME' person and think of no one else, you might pay off your credit card debt sooner because you think of nothing except for money (even if you have to screw people over for it), but you will also die alone and you will be quickly forgotten.
If that's what works for you, then stay in your hovel, pay off your debt and leave civilization to the rest of us who actually understand that there is more to life than staring into a mirror shouting 'MMMEEEEEE!'
People like you are to be pitied. - spriggig, on 10/29/2009, -3/+6A quick comparison on Craigslist shows that HK rents are similar to a large US city. The places shown here are better/safer than living on the street at least.
- NBCLocal, on 10/29/2009, -1/+4Interesting. Does anything like this exist in the US? The closest thing that I can think of, which is not nearly as bad, is in Brooklyn, NY, there are some loft apartments, where you can pay 200 or 300 dollars/month to live in a shoddily constructed loft above someone's kitchen/living room.
- EliteBeat, on 10/30/2009, -0/+2what about the toilet? I wouldn't want to sit on that thing
- gizram84, on 10/30/2009, -0/+2you're an idiot.
- jads, on 10/30/2009, -3/+5Yes, that is the story. Do people living in essentially shoeboxes not surprise you? Just because it may happen elsewhere doesn't make it any less disheartening.
Everyone's view of Hong Kong is of this busy, thriving financial city where everyone drives round in Rolls Royces and is viewed as the pinnacle of the consumerist world.
When you actually see HK it's very different from what you expect. Old, worn buildings still stand and Victoria Harbour creates a compelling divide. HK Island is where most of the businesses, companies and banks are based. In the area of Kowloon, it's very different. Although still lots of areas of shopping and business, the area is a stark contrast to the skyscrapers on the Island. Many buildings are scaffolded and worn down, just like the ones in the video. - Idonteven, on 10/31/2009, -0/+2Do the landlords who rent out these apartments make significant profit off of them or does the majority of what they get go towards their mortgage? How expensive could it be to own one of these apartments?
- triplebeem, on 10/31/2009, -0/+1Yea the toilet sucks too. I am very glad I don't live there.
But compare that to the living situation out in a poor farming town in China. *****, or compare it to the worst parts of Somalia. What we have is great relative to both, what they have in that 'cage apartment' is still better.
People are not entitled to richness. And if people ever hope to become wealthy, they must first be frugal. So actually your sarcastic statement is pretty true. Unless a poor person spends all of their income on stuff they may not need, or lives on credit. Those irresponsible people will stay poor for a long time. The smart frugal poor people could actually move their family into pretty significant wealth over the course of a generation or two. - terencec, on 10/30/2009, -2/+3Coming from Hong Kong, I actually never knew these things existed. However, it must also be kept in mind that most homes for a middle class family (averaging 4 people) are under 1000sqft, as well as costing at least $300,000USD for a home outside the city. However cheap living in Hong Kong maybe, making a living is tough until you gain momentum to climb up the corporate ladder, which is hard to achieve if you have no post-secondary education to begin with.
- Eggzorcist, on 11/23/2009, -0/+1The problem with comparing the Median Household income in Hong-Kong is that the distribution of wealth is varies greatly. Hong-Kong is a place where it's either rich or is poor. There is a lot of riches in Hong-Kong... It's hard to evaluate the median when it is like this due to some people with crazy high wages...
- themastersb, on 10/30/2009, -1/+2He looked 20 years younger though.
- AngelBunny, on 10/30/2009, -0/+1In some areas they have crate or box apartments which is basically the giant metal box you see on boats or trains taken and then fitted to keep the cold out. There is also trailer parks. Both are not really the same though..
- triplebeem, on 10/30/2009, -1/+1Yes. He is comparing it to homelessness. It is better than that. You stated it yourself, most of the world lives in conditions that are pretty bad compared to the richest countries in the world. All of us are lucky to have internet access, and I would hope we are all grateful for winning the genetic/geographic lottery.
And what makes you say that Gnome thinks he's "king *****". He is stating an opinion which leads to the conclusion that we should not evangelize on their situation nor should we go out of our way to change it. You are in fact the one who views himself as a king, or at least one with the right to decree someone else's situation wrong. And yet, do you do anything to help? Or just say its wrong to make yourself feel like a good humanitarian person? - nepidae, on 10/30/2009, -2/+2I may have been a bit of an ***** so i could see ignorant people digging me down, but why would you digg triple down? he hit the nail on the head with pointing out the entitlement that these, and I guess "you" feel.
- qhan7, on 10/30/2009, -1/+1Pictures?
- Navicerts, on 10/31/2009, -1/+1OMG panic time, I am never going to learn to speak Chinese in time!
- Navicerts, on 10/31/2009, -1/+1Oh ***** I never realized poor people were just frugal.
- iwashere2, on 10/30/2009, -2/+1Well said.
- basickly, on 10/30/2009, -2/+1It's only a small step below living in a tent or a dorm or a hostel or a commune or whatever.
It's not that bad...
I mean, it could be bad depending on if there's a lot of crime or other issues. But living in a small space in itself is not the worst thing in the world. - triplebeem, on 10/30/2009, -2/+1Yea that is a very good point. Greed is closer to entitlement than responsibility. If you expect others to take care of you in life, you will die alone and be quickly forgotten. Contribute, and you will be taken care of. I honestly hope everyone in the world puts themselves above me. If you would give up your life to save mine youre nuts.
Man, life's hard, living like that is far better than living in literal squalor on the streets without electricity or running water. We take these things for granted but they are f*cking AWESOME. - triplebeem, on 10/30/2009, -2/+1Yes, some people dont end up getting rich, but that dude looked pretty happy, honestly, watch the video again.
And saving money does NOT mean living with a roommate or two. That is a luxury, and honestly if that is your idea of scrimping you probably grew up, and are still, quite privileged. And if you care so much send them a check, I doubt their happiness is actually worth more than 100 dollars to you. - mandarin, on 10/29/2009, -4/+2I would move to CGuangdong then, plenty of space and work.
- DarkGerbil, on 10/29/2009, -11/+9Forgive me for being heartless. So the story here is poor residents of Hong Kong are forced to live in a smaller area for cheaper rent?
- MotoFly, on 10/29/2009, -5/+2Damn, if only my rent was only $100 a month. That still does seem a little steep for those conditions though. They must have a great view!
- hereticoftruth, on 10/30/2009, -4/+1America in 50 years or less. That is what the plutocracy wants for all their peons.
- ldsan, on 10/29/2009, -4/+1god damn, that's almost as bad as sharing a ***** cathedral with rosie odonnel
- nepidae, on 10/30/2009, -5/+2Why do you think that personal responsibility is the same thing as greed? I would say that expecting others to cover for your failure is a much greedier way to live your life than to use your own resources.
- PandaBearShenyu, on 10/30/2009, -5/+1So this is basically a dirtier version of the Japanese hotels.
People live like this, so what? - nepidae, on 10/29/2009, -6/+2I can't wait for personal responsibility to be cool again.
- nepidae, on 10/30/2009, -7/+2"not-being-an-*****" doesn't pay off your credit card debt
- acdtrux, on 10/30/2009, -6/+1Reporter is hawt!
- triplebeem, on 10/30/2009, -6/+1Saving money does NOT mean 'living with a couple roommates', it might mean that for YOU but for a vast majority of the world, living with a few roommates is a luxury.
Anyone who thinks they are being "forced" to live in these conditions does not grasp the situation. This is very cheap, and the people live there of their own free will. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and cheap housing is bound to be pretty sh*tty, get over it! Honestly the only thing I'd really object to is the shower situation. - basickly, on 10/30/2009, -6/+1Doesn't look so bad if you're single... Except for the mess.
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