Hong Kong: 453 Square Meters of Hell

453 Square Meters of Hell

Directed by Vitaly Buzuev and Alexandr Avilov (2020)

Film Review

Hong Kong has the largest population density in the world. As Southeast Asia’s banking center, it mainly consists of skyscrapers. Property prices are astronomic and 20% of Honk Kong live below the poverty line, which is $US512 per person per month.

The documentary follows the life of several of these unfortunates, who pay hundreds of dollars a month to live in cage the size of a dog kennel (180 x 60 centimeters). One, in his late sixties, supplements his $US300/month pension by collecting garbage off the street. The cage dwellers share a toilet have no access to kitchen facilities and share a communal toilet.

About half the population live in subdivided flats averaging 15×15 meters. For this they pay $US585 for rent, usually one-third of their salary. About 40% live in public subsidized housing costing $US100-300 per month.

One indigent Hong Kong resident owns a 10×12 meter room with a toilet and rice cooker for which he paid $US256,000.

Many poor Hong Kong residents are referred to as McSleepers because they spend the night in fast food restaurants. Most earn an average of $US2,000 a month but are required to pay most of the earnings into a pension fund.

The Hong Kong government is talking about creating an artificial island to build additional housing.

Another possible solution are the mini homes OPOD Concrete produce from concrete water pipes. With a living area of 100 square feet, the units cost $10,000 euros, are transportable and can be stacked on top of one another.