Frustration of surviving pricey Hong Kong stirs protest anger

Frustration of surviving pricey Hong Kong stirs protest anger

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Young people in Hong Kong have been at the forefront of violent protests over a proposed extradition law that have shaken the city and angered Beijing.

At the root of the protests is concern over what many people see as the inexorable erosion of civil liberties and the city's autonomy by an ever-meddling Beijing, that refuses to grant full democracy in the former British colony.

But many young people in one of the world's most densely populated and expensive cities are also infuriated by sky-high living costs, and a feeling that a home of one's own is just a dream.

Reuters spoke to 11 young people in their tiny bedrooms in their parents' homes about their political concerns and frustrations about life in the Chinese-ruled city.

. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Left: Eunice Wai lives with her parents and a brother.
Right: Laundry hangs out to dry in a residential apartment complex.

Eunice Wai, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, sitting on rainbow-coloured sheets in her 7.4 sq metre (80 square feet) bedroom explained how Hong Kong people felt stifled by Beijing: "They control people more and give us less freedom."

But Wai said other problems made life increasingly difficult, in particular what she said was an unfair housing policy that only seemed to make the rich richer.

"Housing is one of the most important ones. We have so little room in Hong Kong and people find it hard to buy a flat. The property companies control the market."

The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that allows freedoms not enjoyed in the mainland, including freedom to protest and an independent judiciary.

But many in Hong Kong resent what they see as Beijing's creeping control and its refusal to let its residents directly elect their leader.

China denies interfering in Hong Kong and warned this week that the violent protests over the proposed legislation allowing extraditions to mainland China were an "undisguised challenge" to the formula under which it is ruled.

. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Left: Fung Cheng in his five square metre bedroom.
Right: Residential apartment blocks.

Fung Cheng, a 25-year-old graphic designer living with his parents and brother, vented his frustration at a system that he believes has robbed him of the chance to ever have his own home.

Cheng, perched on his bunk above a white desk in his five square metre (54 square foot) bedroom, said Hong Kong's Beijing-backed governor Carrie Lam, who was chosen as leader in 2017 in a vote by an electoral college approved by Beijing, just didn't listen to the people.

“It's the system's problem ... they don't need a vote to be the government, there is no democracy," he said.

Lam has suspended the hated extradition bill and said it would lapse next year. But the protesters want it scrapped and have called for Lam to step down.

. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter
Michael Ho inherited his sister's room, took down the wall separating them and now has a 11 sq meter room.

Michael Ho, a bespectacled 24-year-old graduate who also lives with his parents, said the protests were also about unjust circumstances that prevent young people living their dreams.

"It's just hopeless for young people to grow, to develop their career because of the pricing problem," Ho said.

On average, people seeking public housing in the city of 7.4 million people have to wait 5.5 years. The average living space is 40 square metres (430 square feet).

. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Left: Roy Lam, posing in his 7 sq metre bedroom, said: "We rather lose standing up than lose sitting down."
Right: Pipes on the outside wall of a residential apartment block.

Roy Lam, who lives with his mother and four sisters, said young people were determined to stand up for what they deserved but it was hard to stay positive.

"We do also sometimes think 'let's just give up, let's just move to someplace else'."

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Maisy Mok, 22, a student studying international journalism, in her 9 sq meter bedroom. Mok lives with her dad who sleeps on a couch as the apartment is too small. "I feel I could never let go of freedom of speech. I feel like the judiciary system in Hong Kong is pretty good. And I love political satire, these are the things that got me into journalism and politics. If these were taken away, even with the money and benefits that the mainland can bring, or bigger housing, I wouldn't feel happy about it. Sometimes it feels like you are trapped. So for us, who are used to this kind of freedom, we might not get used to it."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Maisy Mok, 22, a student studying international journalism, in her 9 sq meter bedroom. Mok lives with her dad who sleeps on a couch as the apartment is too small. "I feel I could never let go of freedom of speech. I feel like the judiciary system in Hong Kong is pretty good. And I love political satire, these are the things that got me into journalism and politics. If these were taken away, even with the money and benefits that the mainland can bring, or bigger housing, I wouldn't feel happy about it. Sometimes it feels like you are trapped. So for us, who are used to this kind of freedom, we might not get used to it."

A design feature in a staircase in a residential apartment block.
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

A design feature in a staircase in a residential apartment block.

Zaleena Ho, 22, film studies graduate, who lives with her parents, poses for a picture in her 7 sq meter bedroom. "It's getting worse politically. Most of us are trying our best to maintain what we've earned. I have a US passport. I can just leave but I have hope that we can change something. If things turn really bad, I'll run away. But we are still here fighting."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Zaleena Ho, 22, film studies graduate, who lives with her parents, poses for a picture in her 7 sq meter bedroom. "It's getting worse politically. Most of us are trying our best to maintain what we've earned. I have a US passport. I can just leave but I have hope that we can change something. If things turn really bad, I'll run away. But we are still here fighting."

Laundry hangs out to dry in a residential apartment complex.
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Laundry hangs out to dry in a residential apartment complex.

Sonic Lee, 29, a musician and composer, who lives with his mother, poses for a picture in his 6 sq meter bedroom. "Yes, I'm afraid about books that I cannot read or works we cannot write or songs we cannot sing. At the same time, it makes art and music more powerful. Especially Rock'n Roll music. If I use music to talk about what is happening and what we need to fight for, then music will become important in this city."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Sonic Lee, 29, a musician and composer, who lives with his mother, poses for a picture in his 6 sq meter bedroom. "Yes, I'm afraid about books that I cannot read or works we cannot write or songs we cannot sing. At the same time, it makes art and music more powerful. Especially Rock'n Roll music. If I use music to talk about what is happening and what we need to fight for, then music will become important in this city."

Bin liners are stuck in the letterboxes of apartments of a residential apartment block.
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Bin liners are stuck in the letterboxes of apartments of a residential apartment block.

William Lun, 22, an aspiring lawyer, who lives with his father and brother, poses for a picture in his 6.5 square meter bedroom. "I cried in the past two weeks many times. Simply seeing what's been happening, my friends getting shot, teargassed," he said. "It's sad to see the government being indifferent. They seem to be not listening to the youngsters, they seem to be not caring enough. Two million came out and they are saying, 'Oh, we hear you. But we are still going to press on'."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

William Lun, 22, an aspiring lawyer, who lives with his father and brother, poses for a picture in his 6.5 square meter bedroom. "I cried in the past two weeks many times. Simply seeing what's been happening, my friends getting shot, teargassed," he said. "It's sad to see the government being indifferent. They seem to be not listening to the youngsters, they seem to be not caring enough. Two million came out and they are saying, 'Oh, we hear you. But we are still going to press on'."

Residential apartment blocks.
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Residential apartment blocks.

Student Ruka Tong, 21, shares her 11 sq meter room with two of her sisters. Their Parents live in the same apartment. Until last year, the family of five lived in a 28 sq meter room. "You see me always at work to earn more money to buy a flat. I work seven days a week in five jobs. One office job and four jobs giving tutorial classes. Just 2-3 hours resting time. I need to earn more money to save for academia and for my family."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Student Ruka Tong, 21, shares her 11 sq meter room with two of her sisters. Their Parents live in the same apartment. Until last year, the family of five lived in a 28 sq meter room. "You see me always at work to earn more money to buy a flat. I work seven days a week in five jobs. One office job and four jobs giving tutorial classes. Just 2-3 hours resting time. I need to earn more money to save for academia and for my family."

Residential apartment blocks.
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Residential apartment blocks.

John Wai, 26, an engineer, who lives with his parents and a sister, poses for a picture in his 7 sq meter bedroom. "What makes me angry is that the government allows mainland people to buy those very limited resources of land. The property agencies drive the prices so high that we cannot afford them."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

John Wai, 26, an engineer, who lives with his parents and a sister, poses for a picture in his 7 sq meter bedroom. "What makes me angry is that the government allows mainland people to buy those very limited resources of land. The property agencies drive the prices so high that we cannot afford them."

Residential apartment blocks.
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Residential apartment blocks.

Law student Ruby Leung, 22, who lives with her mother and domestic helper, poses for a picture in her 7 sq meter bedroom. "They promised to have a one country, two systems for 50 years, so people panic about what will happen in 50 years. Will they continue this, or will they just assimilate us into part of China, like a district in Shenzhen? That's very scary."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Law student Ruby Leung, 22, who lives with her mother and domestic helper, poses for a picture in her 7 sq meter bedroom. "They promised to have a one country, two systems for 50 years, so people panic about what will happen in 50 years. Will they continue this, or will they just assimilate us into part of China, like a district in Shenzhen? That's very scary."

Residential apartment blocks.
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Residential apartment blocks.

Peter Chang, 23, a social entrepreneur who shares his room with his father, poses in his 5 sq metre bedroom. Venting his anger over the government's immigration scheme that settles mainland Chinese in Hong Kong, he said, "They are attempting to dilute our identity through the Great Bay Area scheme."
. Hong Kong, China. Reuters/Thomas Peter

Peter Chang, 23, a social entrepreneur who shares his room with his father, poses in his 5 sq metre bedroom. Venting his anger over the government's immigration scheme that settles mainland Chinese in Hong Kong, he said, "They are attempting to dilute our identity through the Great Bay Area scheme."