Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Seven million people living in 423 square miles. The local government makes no attempt to hide this fact, noting the superlative on a fact-sheet (PDF). Although 49 percent of the city’s residents live in public or subsidized housing, the city has rents 35 percent higher than New York City. The Chinese city’s government has gone so far as to enact new taxes on investment in real estate to try to slow the rise in home prices, which now stand at nearly $1,300 a square foot.
No doubt, the throngs of bankers and mercantilists have comfortable accomodations. But according to the Society for Community Organization, 100,000 of the city’s laborers live in sub-divided apartment units averaging 40 square feet. The Hong Kong based advocacy organization commissioned and released these photographs, depicting the living conditions inside these apartments from the only vantage point able to capture the entire unit—directly above.
All images courtesy of the Society for Community Organization. This post originally appeared on Quartz, an Atlantic partner site.
David Yanofsky is a reporter creating data driven graphics and features for Quartz. He previously worked for Bloomberg creating interactive content for its web sites, television stations, radio broadcasts, and magazines. All posts »