Elderly man sleeping in a small, cluttered room.
Share this @internewscast.com

HONG Kong residents crammed into so-called coffin homes sleep on tiny beds which fill entire rooms without enough space for luggage.

Over 200,000 residents in Hong Kong, China, have no choice but to live in overcrowded, poor conditions within minuscule, box-like spaces that offer just a few feet of personal space.

Elderly man sleeping in a small, cluttered room.
Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers continue to live in tiny cramped living spacesCredit: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Person watching television in a small Hong Kong apartment.
An occupant watches television inside a subdivided residential unit, known as a ‘coffin home’Credit: Getty
Night view of Hong Kong residential buildings.
The tiny huts contrast to the city’s high-end luxury apartmentsCredit: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Cramped Hong Kong apartment bathroom with shared toilet and sink.
A shared wash basin and toilet inside a ‘coffin home’Credit: Getty

The former British colony has topped the list for the world’s most unaffordable city for the 14th year running.

And it also suffers one of the worst inequality rates on the planet.

Its subdivided flats, barely big enough to squeeze in a double bed, have become notorious for eye-watering rents.

Last week, YouTuber Drew Binsky, 34, shared shocking footage from inside one of the cramped properties.

After witnessing the horrifying conditions, he dubbed it the “sad reality of life in HK”.

He revealed that tenants are coughing up around £217 a month for a space in a flat packed with 26 box-sized “coffin homes”.

Remarkable footage revealed a man reclining in his improvised cubicle, his possessions crammed against the walls and overflowing onto his slender bed.

A tiny TV sits at the foot of one resident’s bed, almost completely buried under a tangled mess of wires and plugs.

The exterior appears nearly entirely derelict, with many of the so-called homes wedged into crumbling tower blocks in run-down business districts.

Over the years, many photographers have captured the shocking scenes within the minuscule pads.

Nail-biting moment terrified boys dangle on edge of high rise building

Each pod measures just 15 to 18 square feet, barely enough room to lie down and stash belongings.

The airless, windowless cells leave tenants with a severe lack of ventilation during seasons of sweltering heat.

Many try to alleviate this problem by keeping their flimsy sliding doors open, sacrificing any shred of privacy.

Residents also have to share filthy, bug-infested toilets with dozens of neighbours.

The stench of damp and decay is also potent when living inside the cramped cells.

These confined living spaces starkly contrast with the opulence of the affluent in Hong Kong, including the middle class, who reside in hilltop villas or conventional apartments.

“Coffin homes” have long attracted the international media spotlight as a symbol of the city’s failed housing policies.

Two people resting in small, partitioned living spaces in Hong Kong.
Two residents sleeping in their own ‘coffin homes’Credit: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Unemployed man lying on a bed in a small Hong Kong apartment, watching TV.
The infamous homes only have one roomCredit: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Person using a smartphone in a small Hong Kong apartment.
The living spaces are a symbol of the city’s inequalityCredit: Getty

But Hong Kong officials have pledged to phase out the infamous “coffin homes” by 2049.

They have set new rules on minimum living space and safety standards for subdivided flats.

Local authorities said they have identified enough land to build 308,000 public housing units over the next decade.

Since July 2022, around 49,000 people have been moved into public rental housing, with another 18,400 units of temporary accommodation made available as a short-term fix.

Hong Kong was also known for its sprawling fortress which was once the most crowded city on Earth.

With some 50,000 people crammed into a few blocks of concrete jungle, Kowloon Walled City was an ungoverned place plagued by lawlessness.

The city was a wonder in itself – with thousands of families and businesses housed in some 300 interconnected high-rise buildings across 6.4 acres of land.

Haunting pictures showed the grim reality of the concrete jungle, which existed as a Chinese territory, with narrow tower blocks packed tight against each other.

The astonishing scenes echo living standards in Manila, where slums are among the most tightly packed in the world.

Extraordinary aerial images shed light on just how crowded the shanty towns really are in the Philippines capital.

Interior of a Hong Kong coffin home.
There is barely enough room to store possessionsCredit: Getty
A retired waiter sleeping in his small Hong Kong apartment.
Hong Kong officials have pledged to phase out the rooms by 2049.Credit: Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Miami Beach tops US priciest home zip codes in 2025

Miami Beach Overtakes Nation as Most Expensive Zip Code for Homes in 2025

California has cemented its reputation for high real estate costs, claiming seven…
Marcia Carty granted period to improve skills amid complaints

Marcia Carty Given Opportunity to Enhance Skills Following Public Concerns

Marcia Carty’s employment agreement stipulates a 30-day period for her to address…
At Least 135 Mutilated Palestinian Bodies Traced to Israeli Prison Accused of Torture

135 Palestinian Bodies Found: Investigation Launched into Alleged Israeli Prison Abuses

In a disturbing development, Gaza health authorities report that 135 bodies of…
Fraternity suspended after possible hazing leaves university student in critical condition: report

University Fraternity Faces Suspension Amid Alleged Hazing Incident: Student Critically Injured

A fraternity in New Jersey is facing suspension due to potential hazing…
Alleged stalker detained then released after girls’ hit-and-run deaths, arrested days later: officials

Shocking Twist: Teen Suspect Linked to Fatal Hit-and-Run Allegedly Swatted Victim’s Home Weeks Prior

A 17-year-old male, suspected of a fatal hit-and-run involving two teenage girls,…
Texas mom on '40 Under 40' list arrested for leaving baby on Florida beach

Texas Mom Featured in ’40 Under 40′ Arrested After Incident Involving Baby on Florida Beach

A promising figure in the Texas healthcare scene, recently recognized on a…
Mickey Mouse surprises L.A. kids and teaches them the "Hot Dog!" dance from the 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+'

Mickey Mouse Delights L.A. Kids with a Surprise “Hot Dog!” Dance Lesson

LOS ANGELES — Amid joyful cheers and energetic music, Mickey Mouse made…
Trump threatens Hamas if Gaza ceasefire collapses as JD Vance to visit Israel

Trump Issues Warning to Hamas Amid Gaza Ceasefire Concerns; JD Vance Plans Visit to Israel

In a recent announcement regarding Vice President JD Vance’s upcoming visit to…
Man arrested, accused of trying to smuggle drugs into Ware County Jail

Attempted Drug Smuggling Foiled at Ware County Jail: Suspect in Custody

In a bold and unusual attempt to smuggle drugs into a correctional…
'21st Century Digital Watergate': Another GOP Senator’s Phone Records Were Targeted by Biden’s DOJ

Biden’s DOJ Under Fire: Allegations of Targeting GOP Senator’s Phone Records in ‘Digital Watergate’ Scandal

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has reportedly had his phone records subpoenaed…
A Grand Teton mountain runner set a record. But his route turned into a crime

Trailblazer Sets Record in Grand Teton Run, Faces Unexpected Legal Challenges

Michelino Sunseri’s journey to the summit of Grand Teton was nothing short…
American chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky dead at 29

Tragic Passing: Chess Prodigy Daniel Naroditsky Dies at 29

Daniel Naroditsky, a revered figure in the chess world who transformed himself…