{"id":2114,"date":"2016-11-07T02:05:37","date_gmt":"2016-11-06T18:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesis.arch.hku.hk\/2016\/?p=2114"},"modified":"2016-11-08T23:37:18","modified_gmt":"2016-11-08T15:37:18","slug":"architectural-cages-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thesis.arch.hku.hk\/2016\/architectural-cages-2\/","title":{"rendered":"“Architectural” Cages"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hong Kong’s property prices are among the highest in the world<\/span><\/span>. Last week<\/span><\/span>, the government raised the stamp duty for non-first-time buyers for the second time in three years to dampen soaring prices. As such, lengthy waits for public housing have <\/span><\/span>pushed people to live in low-income housing, including coffin cubicles, caged homes and subdivided units. Almost 200,000 people were living in 88,000 subdivided flats last year according to the Census and Statistics Department. However, these figures do not include the estimated 10,000 people living illegally in industrial buildings or in rural areas that fail to meet residential building standards.<\/span><\/span> Housing has become a hot-button political issue, and housing issues are in almost every politician’s campaign platform. <\/span><\/span>Two months ago, the issue of low-income housing has been under public scrutiny.\u00a0The government announced a plan to criminalize landlords operating illegal flats in industrial buildings. The move could render thousands homeless.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n