Living Space Shrinks For The Poor, Study Finds

An advocacy group says people living in subdivided or rooftop structures have told them their living quarters are even smaller than three years ago.

The Kwai Chung Subdivided Flat Residents Alliance on Sunday released findings from its survey on around 200 residents living in "inadequate housing" in the Kwai Tsing area.

It found that their living space per capita averaged 40.7 square feet - down from 50 square feet in 2017.

Nearly 25 percent of the respondents said their living environment had deteriorated and more than 70 percent indicated they did not have their own kitchens.

But most of those polled also noted that some aspects had improved over the past three years, saying their homes now had their own bathrooms and air-conditioners.

The Alliance reiterated its call on the government to do more to improve living conditions for these people, including setting minimum standards for living space.