In a cramped, makeshift room five floors above the vibrant chaos of Mong Kok's famed street markets, Coco Au has carved out a semblance of a home. Surrounded by plastic bags hanging from hooks, her tiny sanctuary of about 6 square meters houses not just her but another tenant above. With an estimated 200,000 people residing in glorified 'subdivided flats' like hers, Coco's situation is far from unique in the world's most densely populated city.

These subdivided homes are merely the tip of the iceberg, with an even grimmer reality lurking in the shadows: coffin homes and cage homes. While Hong Kong’s government acknowledges the existence of roughly 110,000 subdivided flats, these small, prison-like environments are harder to quantify, making the full scope of the housing crisis a contentious point of debate.

Dramatic socio-economic disparities plague this financial hub. Recent estimates suggest that around 50,000 children live in these utterly inadequate conditions, alongside families and countless single residents. Many tenants, like Ms. Lee, have formed communal living arrangements to make the best of their dire circumstances, sharing responsibilities, from cooking to supporting each other through their night shifts in various jobs.

This housing crisis has garnered international attention, echoing alarm bells about Hong Kong's title as the place with the most unaffordable housing globally. The Chinese government has demanded the city authorities phase out these subdivided and substandard living conditions by 2049, addressing what they term a “deep-rooted problem.” With around 2.9 million residential flats in Hong Kong and 2.7 million households—a significant number of which are vacant due to speculative real estate practices—a stark disconnect exists between need and availability.

Critics draw attention to the city's lack of a vacancy tax, which allows property developers to hold onto empty units in hopes of fetching higher prices. Amidst this backdrop, Hong Kong’s government is now announcing plans to eliminate subdivided flats smaller than 8 square meters and those lacking basic facilities, yet it avoids the thorny issue of coffin and cage homes, leaving many advocates unconvinced.

Tenant Coco Au is skeptical of these newly proposed measures, voicing fears that landlords will be reluctant to invest in necessary renovations. 'If they want to renovate, it must comply with new standards,' she explains. 'But most landlords won’t make the investment. It seems unrealistic.'

In an effort to relieve some pressure, the government plans to introduce 30,000 temporary 'light public housing' units to accommodate those on the long public housing waiting list. However, many residents in areas like Kai Tak, where these units are set to be built, express concerns over urban planning viability and potential overcrowding.

With the community facing transformation from a commercial area to temporary housing, fears of inadequate transportation and infrastructure loom large. This sentiment underscores anxiety in a city already reeling from social tensions and political crackdowns since the 2019 protests.

Moving forward, housing advocates insist that simply addressing subdivided flats isn't enough. Sze Lai Shan of the Society for Community Organisation emphasizes that a broader strategy must also encompass cage homes and coffin homes, with a clear eradication timetable.

As the situation continues to evolve, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the Hong Kong government will genuinely act to alleviate these housing crises or if countless residents will be left to endure their grim living situations indefinitely. Will the proposed changes mark a true shift toward recovery, or will they simply reinforce the cycle of despair? Only time will tell.