{"id":5226,"date":"2024-03-27T12:29:09","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T04:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/?p=5226"},"modified":"2024-03-27T12:29:12","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T04:29:12","slug":"having-your-fill-of-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/zh-hans\/%e7%bd%91%e8%aa%8c\/having-your-fill-of-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Having your fill of problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Hong Kong, 27 March 2024:<\/strong> I confess to being a Marxist \u2026 of the Groucho, Harpo and Chico sort. The trio\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8ZvugebaT6Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cabin scene<\/a> in <em>A Night at the Opera<\/em> remains a comedy classic: Groucho discovers three stowaways \u2013 including his two brothers \u2013 in his tiny room aboard a ship, which is then occupied by a pair of housekeeping staff, a heating engineer, his workmate, manicurist, lady looking for her Aunt Minnie, and cleaner. Groucho quips his way through the ordeal even as four stewards arrive with trays of food. The chaos only ends when another visitor opens the door and everyone tumbles out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the Marx Brothers feel claustrophobic, spare a thought for the 220,000 citizens living in Hong Kong\u2019s notorious subdivided flats, tiny cubicles that often present health and fire safety hazards. On average, such dwellings are just 118 sq ft, the same size as a car parking space. Sometimes, whole families reside in this one room. Beijing wants these units and their even more notorious cousins, so-called cage homes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestandard.com.hk\/section-news\/section\/11\/232295\/Xia-speech-'reminds'-HK-to-tackle-home-woes,-hear-voice-of-people\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eradicated by 2047<\/a>, and our leader John Lee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thestandard.com.hk\/section-news\/section\/11\/256214\/'More-efforts'-to-focus-on-housing,-subdivided-flats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">has taken note<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While cramped conditions are stressful enough, some residents say <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/society\/article\/3254889\/law-does-not-protect-us-hong-kong-subdivided-flat-tenants-call-authorities-plug-loopholes-tenancy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">exploitation by landlords is continuing<\/a>, despite recent legislation which restricts rent increases on tenancy renewals and forbids flat owners from overcharging for electricity or water. Landlords are also required to adequately maintain the property. However, if they transgress, the law only grants occupants the right to terminate their tenancy or carry out repairs first and recover the costs \u2013 a tall order for most, given their impoverished circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lawmaker Doreen Kong, who sits on the Legislative Council\u2019s welfare panel, wants enforcement efforts against malpractice increased, rather than simply relying on tenants to report incidents. \u201cThe government should instead conduct more surprise checks,\u201d she insists. Economist and Commission on Poverty member Terence Chong agrees, pointing out it is unrealistic to expect tenants to take legal action against their landlords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alas, this plight will not end anytime soon. The average waiting time for a public rental flat has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/society\/article\/3254384\/hong-kong-public-housing-tenants-waiting-time-58-years-flats-increase-blamed-low-housing-production\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">increased to 5.8 years<\/a> due to low housing production and project delays in 2023. The Housing Authority distributed 13,700 flats last year, of which 12,900 were refurbished, but pledges the waiting time will improve. \u201cLooking ahead in the coming 10 years, the overall public housing supply will register a clear upward trend,\u201d says a spokesman, cheerily. Hang in there, folks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More immediate help is at hand. Three new \u201ccommunity living rooms\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/society\/article\/3255424\/3-new-hong-kong-community-living-rooms-people-living-tiny-subdivided-flats-open\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">will open this year<\/a>, catering for more than 1,000 households living in cramped conditions in To Kwa Wan, Hung Hom and Nam Cheong. They follow a pilot scheme in Sham Shui Po last December which provides local residents with extra space to study, shower, cook and eat. All four premises are donated by developers and operated by NGOs. Chief Secretary Eric Chan says the government is aiming to set up a community living room in every district where subdivided flats are concentrated. He is calling on \u201cmore developers to join us in the initiative\u201d. You have to admire his optimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If some tenants cannot wait to leave, others elsewhere are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/hong-kong\/society\/article\/3255664\/last-residents-ageing-hong-kong-estate-cling-memories-resist-deadline-make-way-redevelopment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refusing to do so<\/a>. While most of the 1,600 rental flats at Shek Kip Mei\u2019s ageing Tai Hang Sai Estate are now empty, with many occupants having moved out ahead of a planned redevelopment, some 20 households are sitting tight. They are in a standoff with the estate\u2019s long-time owner, the Hong Kong Settlers Housing Corporation, over relocation terms. The non-profit organisation has been trying for the best part of a decade to persuade residents to move temporarily, or be rehoused permanently, so the estate can be revamped. But some older occupants with an emotional attachment to their home are proving difficult to convince. Banners hung from windows \u2013 \u201cMiserable\u201d and \u201cNeed Proper Relocation\u201d \u2013 underscore their defiance. The corporation points out, not unreasonably, that the \u201cvast majority\u201d of households support the scheme which will \u201csignificantly enhance the quality of life\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Writing about the underprivileged and vulnerable brings me neatly to a remarkable lady who has dedicated her life to helping them. Public interest lawyer Patricia Ho combats human trafficking, forced labour, exploitation of migrant workers and various other nefarious activities. She does so with passion and vigour, while maintaining a sunny outlook on life. Patricia is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/1750709\/14606236-episode-38-patricia-ho\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">my latest guest<\/a> on <em>Law &amp; More<\/em> and I urge you to listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In closing, some news from Discovery Bay, the resort town on Lantau Island that is a world away from our inner-city\u2019s subdivided flats and cage homes. With upmarket properties, chic restaurants and private golf club, it has long been a haven for professionals and their families. No matter how deep their pockets, though, residents will be aghast at <a href=\"https:\/\/hongkongfp.com\/2024\/03\/25\/discovery-bay-ferry-firm-seeks-60-fare-hike-to-hk73-6-for-a-single-amid-years-of-taxpayer-bailouts-subsidies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this week\u2019s news<\/a> that the town\u2019s ferry operator is seeking government approval for a 60% hike in fares despite years of taxpayer bailouts and subsidies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Discovery Bay Transportation Services cites \u201crising operating costs and declining patronage\u201d for the request. As an alternative, perhaps its executives could simply watch the Marx Brothers \u2013 after all, they know how to fill a ship\u2019s cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Until next time, everybody!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Colin Cohen<\/strong><br><strong>Senior Partner<\/strong><br><strong>Boase Cohen &amp; Collins<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hong Kong, 27 March 2024: I confess to being a Marxist  [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5223,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-54"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Having your fill of problems - \u5e03\u9ad8\u6c5f\u5f8b\u5e08\u884c<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boasecohencollins.com\/zh-hans\/%e7%bd%91%e8%aa%8c\/having-your-fill-of-problems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"zh_CN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Having your fill of problems - 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