Dark Side of Hong Kong: The Real Life Dystopia

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This is Hong Kong. The financial capital of Asia, a place filled with incredible wealth and home of more ultra-high-net-worth individuals than any other place on the planet. But Hong Kong is also a place where every fourth person lives below the poverty line, where the elderly are forced to scavenge for waste just to survive and where hundreds of thousands of people live in the urban hell of so-called cage homes. So, how did that happen?
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[@paulyiustravelogue]

I am originally from Hong Kong, but let’s clarify one thing here. Cage homes are the extreme of the extreme. They exist, but tenants are mainly elder single men who either have no or very low income to rent anything else. Subdivided homes are another thing. Think of them as mini apartment units within a larger flat with their own plumbing.

[@creationfied]

yeah i feel like he went on with 2 main points to back this video but they are more nuanced than what is presented

[@Asian_Connection]

In the USA its street tents! Is that any better?

[@DavidJohnson-dp4vv]

@@creationfied That's what every single dark side video on these channels. They take the extreme and say it's normal.

[@DavidJohnson-dp4vv]

@@Asian_Connection That's pretty much the extreme just like the op said. HK also has people sleeping on the streets and that's also to the extreme.

[@awacs888]

Don't justify hong kongs human misery caused by greed

[@clementchan9880]

I’m from Hong Kong and live here. A USD 600k flat is considered very cheap. The smallest down payment you can make is 10% but the interest rates on such “cheap” mortgages are obviously higher. The average wage here is around USD 2k per month. So you do the math(s). 30 year mortgages are a norm among those who can afford it, which means they are overpaying for such small flats.

[@clementchan9880]

And the average waiting time for public housing is 6 years. Many people wait far longer than that, which is why so many people are living in subdivided flats.

[@johnwright9372]

The worst value for money in the world by far.

[@濠-g4m]

No one calculates income by average. It’s median

[@clementchan9880]

You really think a median monthly income of "HKD 27500" accurately reflects salaries in HK?

[@paulgallagher2937]

I used to live in Shenzhen, so visited HK many times. Its quite a strange place. I have considered opening an office and living there, but the cost is outrageous. A 100 sqm office would be something like 5k usd/month minimum. I really don't know how small businesses survive. I personally believe that the riots from a couple years ago were more a result of civil unrest from the living conditions, rather than any influence from China. It was a good rallying cry, but really, they are just very unhappy and anything could have triggered it.

[@eggheadegghead]

Hong Kong's housing situation are the problems of: 1, the Hong Kong government bow to the pressure of the rich families. 2, the representatives elected by the people are not passing laws to help resolve the housing problems. 3, a few rich families in Hong Kong basically controls the real estate market.

[@keepwondering_]

Sounds like a maffia state lol i’d get the f*ck out of there

[@wireplay-1.5metre]

no, basically no representatives are elected bh the people after 2021. Originally only a half of legislators were elected

[@G.A.C_Preserve]

@@keepwondering_ it being controlled by the PRC, what else did you expect for it to be

[@lindilebangose7667]

🤣 the people will only elect what's presented to them. Theses people will still be picked by the same capitalists that have ruled over the area. The only way reforms will happen is if legislative steps are taken to stop this non-intervention approach, but which politician is brave enough to fight with the purse?

[@MeiinUK]

They are not controlling the real estates... they are controlling and trying to hold tight the HK dollar... which we know why they are trying to do that.... So..... We know. We know.

[@benxamin13]

Hong Kong is just an in-your-face reflection of the world we live in.

[@canto_v12]

It is a corporation’s utopia. Investors control all the commodities and the working class lives like sewer rats

[@magiccarpetrider4594]

Income disparity is so obvious.

[@FFFMedia910]

Long story short. I’m born and raised in HK and I can tell you that it’s worse than hell if you’re broke.

[@lanxy2398]

@@besmart2350 It’s an area where capitalism is off its leash. Negligible social programs at most. Pe

[@pyeitme508]

At least u got food, clothes & transports. Yes living as hell but what ya expect?

[@canto_v12]

Same with most major cities, bro.

[@lepetitchat123]

​@pyeitme508 you sound so callous

[@AndreasViking1]

@@canto_v12no not for many major European cities like in my country in Sweden. China has the second largest population of people in poverty in the world

[@user_uif_ghg_wer_das]

This is when capitalism, small government, big society goes extreme, The trickle down economy never happens.

[@danielmitchell940]

Trickle down economics is a myth anyway

[@shauncameron8390]

@@danielmitchell940 Yet the left still actively practices it.

[@ItsMeChillTyme]

Wrong. This is not 'extreme' lol. Also, while the trickle down may not be any formula, without those policies, Hong Kong would be nothing but another city on the chinese coastline, not having this standard of living or enjoying the freedoms that it did until the takeover happened. Keep confirming biases though, it is the most addictive feeling.

[@apollo1694]

Which country does Hong Kong belong to again? Right, the People's Republic of China, ruled by the Communist Party.

[@Vectorman2X]

in the opposite we have chine with communism thats all its fine gimme a break.Its not about the economic system.Its about the rich, they have the controlled of everything

[@danielt9991]

I was born in Hong Kong and live in Hong Kong. But I can tell that Hong Kong sucks, Stressful life and limited chances to get higher social economic status making me feel suffering. I have a master degree and a professional job. It is quite impossible to get rich by hard work. Hong Kong Govt and society give many benefits and resources to elderlies to earn their support in votes, while they give up youths and teenagers' future literally. Those who are in middle class or upper class just care about their own benefits and money. No freedom of speech, working every day like a robot, no future, no hope. Poor living environment and extremely competitive society give me Depression and GAD. Sigh, just like the lyrics in "Mad World" from Tears of Fears.

[@kailidovas9562]

Then go to an other country if it makes you feel bad mentally!

[@castorchua]

@@kailidovas9562 Those that can afford to, do. Vancouver and Sydney are filled with HKers that made it out.

[@kailidovas9562]

@@castorchua Vancouver and Syndey arent the only places in world and i dobt like them! A developed country is Norway and if he wants to live an free life i recommend greece(the salary is not that high in greece tho?

[@castorchua]

@@kailidovas9562 Vancouver and Sydney just happened to be the cities with the highest quality of life that you can basically buy your way into. Scandinavia might be the best place in the world but try getting in there.

[@canto_v12]

Freedom of speech is a false flag--it doesn't relate to any of your problems. Widespread unrest will always degrade freedom of speech, time will fix that as the threat subsides. As a HKer living in the US, I want to assure you that it is quite uncommon to get rich simply by hard work. It's the same everywhere. The problem with major cities is that its economy relies on global money. That means foreign and mainland investors are unfairly competing with local residents for local commodities like housing (it has always been this way even in colonial HK, just that proportionally more Chinese money exists today than in 1990). The difference with HK is that it has closed borders and people cannot move out (unless you emigrate to the mainland or another country). In most other countries, such as the US, people who cannot afford the city simply move to a cheaper, less developed area. Still mostly the same laws and same language. This option is largely unavailable to Hong Kongers, which is one major source of HK's land supply problem. There are no "other cities" to absorb HK's outflow so we are all trapped like a pressure cooker of overloaded capitalism.

[@robeeri]

I've lived in Hong Kong for 7 years and directly witnessed the events that led to the protests and subsequent national security law. This video is for the most part a decent snapshot of a few macro details about HK but perhaps misleading about some of the finer points. HK is losing its position as the financial hub for Asia for a myriad of reasons, tighter gov control only being one of them. But it was losing that position already years ago as HK no longer represents quite as significant of a source of income for mainland China, as China's economy has been growing immensely for decades. So to say that "Hong Kong's position as Asia's main financial center is slipping away, since China has abandoned the principle of One Country Two Systems, and since it has been exercising ever tighter control of the city, and taken away the freedoms that Hong Kong used to have..." is reductionist at best and inaccurate at worst, because it lays ALL the blame at the feet of China's control without taking into consideration any other factors. It's also important to note that while the national security law and cracking down on the right of assembly have certainly had an impact, COVID hit concurrently with those changes, and has arguably had a much much larger impact on the economy and people's prospects for financial prosperity, but that wasn't mentioned in this video.

[@台独的老父亲]

典型的西方白人角度

[@robeeri]

@@台独的老父亲 is it? Most of western media (including this video we’re commenting on) places the blame entirely on the CCP, which is why I made my comment as a counterpoint to that angle. Obviously China’s tightening of control over HK is having a huge impact, but so are many other things.

[@johnlacey3857]

The CCP is singlehandedly responsible for the downfall of HK... don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. COVID you say? And where did that come from, and the draconian rules surrounding it?

[@Birdylockso]

I also live in Hong Kong but spend a few months also in both the US and China. I've stopped commenting because the world is now polarized with people who only know one narrative sticking to that very narrative. There is no dialogue but recalcitrant condemnation that come from keyboard warriors who have no firsthand experience or knowledge. But you keep up the good work.

[@brunokagawa6287]

@@johnlacey3857 Nope

[@PappyMandarine]

I enjoy very much the irony emanating from the contrast between the smooth voice and chill music on the one hand and the disheartening content and gloomy mood on the other.

[@richjustin06]

This is sad man. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for the elderly folks and ppl with kids. The “cages” are inhumane smh

[@besmart2350]

is your country better?

[@keepwondering_]

@@besmart2350 it’s not hard to be better than this😂 at least if you’re from western world

[@carinaleung2564]

Usually in cage homes，it’s mostly middle aged people with no family so they can’t send them to nursing homes (where the conditions are cramped,like 20 people in a same room with only beds and the neglected) But aren’t many cases of children or families in cage home though,but they are still in cramped coffin homes

[@bananaboy1026]

@@keepwondering_ Philadelphia has more ppl living on the street than ppl in hk living in cage homes

[@keepwondering_]

@@bananaboy1026 I don’t know what’s worse, living in a cage or living free on the street🤣 i would chose the US anytime over a country like this tho. I’m from the Netherlands and we dont have things like this going on so maybe its easy to say, but i feel like in the US you actually have chances to become in a better situation. Free economics are essential

[@lonelychameleon3595]

So what exactly went “wrong” here? It sounds like everything went exactly as it was supposed to, and everything you described-overpriced caged homes, destitute grandparents, concentration of wealth-are all byproducts of unregulated capitalism. There’s a reason why free market acolytes love to point at places like Hong Kong and Singapore as models for how society should be organized. The idea that unregulated capitalism without safety nets or government intervention will somehow lead to an overall better quality of life just isn’t true, and we have real world examples to point to.

[@sleepyjoe4529]

Singapore has a much more left-leaning government than HK though. Way more social welfare programs.

[@nerd2544]

government collecting and increasing heavy land tax and jacking up housing prices == "unregulated" crapitalism "without government intervention"

[@samgyeopsal569]

There are no homeless in Singapore

[@PutXi_Whipped]

@@samgyeopsal569 Singapore has generous social welfare and a de facto one party state.

[@canto_v12]

I always point to Hong Kong as what happens when you let capitalism run the country.

[@d15z1sux]

Basically this is what happens in a capitalist haven. Fundamentally there's nothing wrong with that but you need to have more measures to help those with lower incomes and to make sure the wealth gap does not become too large.

[@adamtang1922]

Since rich people rely on the services of bin men, cleaners, wait staff, and every manual worker under the sun, you'd at least expect a minimum wage system rather than let them rot on next to nothing. But no, let the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

[@d15z1sux]

@@adamtang1922 that's the capitalist system, that's how the rich get richer by paying everyone below them less. They will get big salaries and big bonuses sometimes even despite the company underperforming. They will rather save costs in paying their workers and production costs than to reduce their own salaries.

[@canto_v12]

This. Any major city will be a gathering centre for worldwide wealth, pricing out the working class by default. Hong Kong has simply chosen to do very little about it for the past 40+ years and the recent instability is the biggest sign yet. This has nothing to do with whether Britain or China was in charge. The handover is just a convenient scapegoat for a woefully outdated economic structure combined with insufficient working class housing.

[@d15z1sux]

@@canto_v12 yes the issues have been brewing for a long time but what matters is if anything will be done to help those in need now.

[@yusrikh]

I remember watching a documentary about urban hong kong, it was unbelievable how they were able to advance so much yet so little at the same time. It's literally cyberpunk irl Edit: This is the documentary that I'm talking about. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4ardXSceZWNY7M

[@martynawochna9418]

can you recall a name of this doc? wanna watch this :)

[@tejaswilog3946]

What is the name of this doc..

[@nerd2544]

"It's literally cyberpunk irl" cyberpunk as a genre literally *originated from* hong kong and its neon signs and skyline (blade runner). it's the birthplace of cyberpunk alongside tokyo lol.

[@Dr.Kraig_Ren]

@@nerd2544 Exactly lmao.

[@ranex7511]

Hahaha, I never realized that.

[@lucychan2822]

I have a friend from Hong Kong. When he talked about HK, I could see the pride in his eyes. Then 2019 came along with the extradition bill, I felt how frustrated he was...

[@canto_v12]

I used to be proud to be from Hong Kong. 2019 turned that upside down, one of the most embarrassing and ignorant chapters of our history. We took our problems, which have been festering for over 40 years and well before the handover, and attempted to blame them all on China. As Hong Kongers we need to take a deep, long look in the mirror at our materialistic, selfish, short-sighted, scapegoating selves to see why the city is where it is now. China did not create the housing shortage, and China certainly does not owe Hong Kong a shipping monopoly or an indefinite supply of cheap, desperate factory labourers.

[@Willxdiana]

@@canto_v12 same. I used to be proud of hk until 2019. Now I am not. Its also not chinas fault

[@skoumastv]

Same here. Used to live there and left at 2019.. i dont know something changed in the vibe since then. Before the virus

[@MrAhyoung]

BS! Nothing has been taken away from Hong Kong people by China since the belated promulgation of the National Security Law! On the contrary, Hong Kong has become much safer, peaceful and more beautiful than ever before! Peace-loving people can come to Hong Kong and see for themselves. Don't believe the puppets of the Western countries that are envious of China's giant-step developments in every aspects!

[@SC_17]

@@Willxdiana ~ what are you talking about ? You say "i was proud of HK before 2019?" The protests in 2014 and 2019 would not have even occurred if China didn't start forcing its control over the city instead of leaving its decisions to the local goverment and its people. You say you hate the chaos that happened in HK, but ignored what instigated the protests to begin with. And you say that it was worse under the British? lol. The British were the ones that created the capitalist society that it is today, set the low tax system and its laws, and having English as the official language is what attracted foreign investors and international businesses to HK. Now the foreign investors are leaving in droves. Yes, it is mainly China's fault. If China minded its own business, honored the international agreement that they signed, and let the local government handle their own business as usual....HK would have thrived just like it did from 1997 - 2010 and before the handover.

[@monsieur1936]

So basically, no intervention from the government in economy is as worse as total government control of economy, if not more.

[@Alpha-um4uq]

The sad truth but ya

[@paleoph6168]

Both are extreme methods of government handling, so yeah.

[@monsieur1936]

@@paleoph6168 true, extremism always sucks

[@leealex24]

As an outsider, I think the positive non-interventionism is a good idea (Malaysia did this also especially in the 80's/90's) without that an economy will never grow rapidly. However, the biggest mistake is the government owns the land and lease to property developers which incentivizes rental to go higher and higher hence, making people harder to rent let alone buy. The government revenue should be from taxes, and other sources and not from leases. It's almost like the govt cahoot with property developers to screw the people lives.

[@monsieur1936]

@@leealex24 if government increases taxes then market is no more “intervention free”. In addition to that, higher taxes will make it harder for new business to grow, which won't grow anyway due to family owned monopolies. Government should instead help new business to grow and levy taxes on big business and give incentives to small companies. Plus, the main reason why government should exist is to make lives better for it's citizens, so responsible social spending and creating quality cheap public housing. Other than that, your point is true, non-interventionism to a certain extent is necessary but it should never be done at the expense of poor.

[@AMI12349]

Here in Chiang Mai, where I've lived for 10 years, people tend to also have very small housing - an average "apartment" here consists only of a bedroom, a bathroom, and a balcony where most people dry their clothes and some people keep a cookstove. Unlike in most areas of the world, there is no rule that housing must include a kitchen, so many buildings that have small apartments and single rooms don't even have shared kitchens for each hall. Most of the buildings are wooden, which makes it a fire safety issue to cook. What makes this difficult is that, unlike Hong Kong and New York and Paris, there is no good public transport here - RTC and B buses were started in 2016-18, but were taken away during the pandemic and still have not been brought back..so, if you don't have your own vehicle, it is almost impossible to live outside the main city area, unless you want to take an expensive taxi home every time you attend an evening event that goes past 6 pm! On the upside, eating out doesn't cost more than a home-cooked meal, and there is a lot of good readymade food at street stalls and markets, as well as free food at lots of religious and other events and places like the Vegetarian Society. There are also lots of public places where you can hang out from around 6 am up to midnight, and some places even 24 hours, such as temples (the city has over 100), shopping malls, cafes, libraries, and parks, and almost anything can be done outside - you can even shower at most temples! But this situation isn't so good for families, or for elderly and handicapped people who cannot easily go around outside. Also, it was lucky that "staying home" in the sense of staying inside wasn't really enforced here during the COVID pandemic - here, "stay home" meant stay within your neighborhood or area. With such small houses, how did Hong Kongers manage during the COVID pandemic? I'm sure the rules were strictly enforced there! Another thing Chiang Mai has in common with Hong Kong, based on the video, is the large number of people who are involved in collecting items (mostly cans and bottles) for recycling, to turn in to get money. Many people have special carts attached to their motorcycles for this purpose and work every night, and that has increased during the pandemic! Of course, that's good for the environment.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? After Dark X

[@danielmitchell940]

0:41 That's the thing...something DIDN'T go horribly wrong if you're trying to make Hong Kong a capitalist paradise. The wealth disparity between the rich and poor in this city is a natural result of a society where the "free" market rules everything.

[@wks2291]

Hong Kong's government requires the revenue from Real Estate taxes and land sales. They need to keep prices up. This is the main reason but there are others. HK and Monaco are the 2 cities where housing prices insane high.

[@halitamoldova9439]

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[@shuang7877]

I am in HK. We spend USD10K per month (we live relatively well but by no means luxurious) on rent for an1700 sqf apartment in the city center. It's selling for USD9million, the price that can get you the highest quality of living elsewhere but you would be considered only upper-middle class here. My friends after learning our rent "oh you got a great deal, how did you bargain for it"

[@ryhchoi]

To be honest if you can spend $10K USD per month, you are making some decent money. ANd the reason why you are making some decent money is because of the low taxes. While many argue that HK is one of the most expensive to live (and its true), property is basically another form of tax. Would you rather be taxed 46% or more on your income, then pay sales taxes etc or would you rather have that disposable income and adjust your lifestyle and can be flexible using your disposable income after taxes. Alot of expats I know that are quite successful aren't moving out of HK because of this exact point! If you feel you are paying too much in rent, and try to move somewhere else, good luck finding alot of work that can afford your $10k USD per month of rent!

[@amercedes1892]

I’d be curious to know how much of the OP’s income is being eaten by 10k rent?

[@shuang7877]

@@ryhchoi I know bud, I am not complaining - we are fortunate as it is. All problems we have are first-world problems. We are pretty risk averse so rent plus mortgage (we also bought a house here) is about 15% of our expenditure - definitely living within our means. I am 40 so we lean towards stability. I am complaining on behalf of the statistic here - the property price to average income ratio is the highest in the world by a huge margin, as is the price/area ratio.

[@ryhchoi]

@@shuang7877 Agree with this. The reality is there is alot of wealth in the city. In HK there is only around 18,000 new private flats built each year, if only 18,000 of the 2.3 m (or 0.8%) families can afford it, it will already have sufficient buying power to absorb the entire supply and hence the high prices. So when people say HK homes are wrongly priced I would have to disagree with this. Having said that, thelack of land and supply is very real and it is also true that this prevents people from buying a home. And the same goes for other financial centres such as New York and London.

[@canto_v12]

I gotta say, as a HKer and without going into politics which has always been a clown show, HK provides one of the worst quality of life values for your dollar in the developed world. Even billionaires cannot afford a detached house, lmao.

[@easterneconomics]

The city tried so hard to be a financial center (and achieved it) that it forgot what even made them a financial center: Hong Kong's autonomy. With the autonomy a lot of money might disappear too.

[@yipwinghei]

Not the locals to forget that but the CCP consider that HK autonomy threats their rule.

[@edwardsnowden8821]

@@yipwinghei macau has autonomy. its the HK democracy advocates who love the USA and Britain more than thier motherland and would sell out thier homeland in a heartbeat that threatens the Chinese government.

[@yipwinghei]

@@edwardsnowden8821 so you agree that HK has no autonomy now and I would not consider macau has autonomy now.

[@edwardsnowden8821]

@@yipwinghei "you would not consider macau has Autonomy" because there is no riot in the streets with rioters assaulting innocent people who disagree with them?. Hong Kong and Macau operate differently from mainland china like it or not. thier currency, flag and laws is evidence enough.

[@yipwinghei]

@@edwardsnowden8821 yup, so you said that HK autonomy threats CCP government and therefore CCP government terminated HK autonomy. Thank you.

[@rxm078]

I'm a British ex-pat living in China now for 18 years, I often visit HK as it is one of my favorite places to travel, but you can't say (HK will turn into another Chinese city, with only skyscrapers, cage homes, and cardboard grandma's). For one China doesn't have a house problem, they have plenty of land to build on and do so, in fact there are more houses empty than anything, same goes for cage homes, there is no such thing here in China, housing is pretty cheap to rent or even buy unlike HK, though one thing you got right was the cardboard grandma's, you should add plastic too, but whats wrong with that? they are doing a recyling job that all of us humans should do, in fact they are helping our environment and us more than anything. HK problems are not down to China either, it was in deep way before 1997 and China came along, you even pointed out about how the government works and how family clans run everything in HK which is true. What HK really needs is a reset and China to finally take over 100% and run it as they do every other Chinese city, if you have been to mainland China then you know what I am talking about, and NO do not say (the ccp crap etc) know your facts and see China first before you start listening to the rubbish that the western media say about the CCP, its simply not true at all.

[@Asian_Connection]

I'm so glad someone speaks the truth. Alot of people are so sheltered that they don't know what is real and fake. 90% of the people never traveled out of their country to see what is real. People here are so stupid that they don't even realize that they are paying rent to the government for privately own property. It's like you but a car and still have to pay a fee to use it!

[@freeman10000]

Aussie here. I lived in China for ten years and spent a lot of time in Hong Kong. China is not the amazing place that you are making it out to be. Despite the glitter of the major cities most Chinese are fairly poor. Their society is unbelievablely stressful and the reality that their authoritarian government jealously takes away their subjects freedoms but enriches itself doesn't make people's lives any easier. I left China a few years ago because I clearly saw the writing on the wall. When I first visited China in the early 2000's it was a fun, dynamic place to be. The country was opening up and her citizens vere curious about the world. By the time I left in 2018 it was almost a different country. The earlier optimism was drying up. Political propoganda was absolutely everywhere and in your face. Also and most sadly the Chinese had become insular, worrying about survival. Curiosity was gone; the colour is grey. The Chinese Communist Party, from my observations is completely suffocating the People's Republic. And if history has taught us anything and repeatedly is that when one person gains so much power in any country to become a dictator that country is on its way down! I hope you enjoy China, I am personally glad I am away from that repressive place. I also weep for Hong Kong...

[@vman7869]

Why do you call yourself ex-pat? You're an immigrant aren't you?

[@choy2l]

in case you don't know: Chinese treat people of different skin colors differently. after hundreds of years of turmoil, most Chinese are self-conscious in some way.

[@rxm078]

@@freeman10000 Amazing? when did I ever say that China was Amazing?!? I never did! I am just pointing out that it is NOT like many people think or say it is, simple as that. Most Chinese were fairly poor yes, but it is much different now since I came here in 2004, the governement has helped a lot of the poor people. You want to call out countries for the poor people then look at the US, UK and even AUS, are they perfect? go to LA in the US and see for yourself how bad it is! I don't see how you say society is stressful, why? the authoritarian governement are jealous, again why? China has come a long way since I first came here, and only in 18 years! The governement has changed a LOT and done a LOT for the people and the country, like I said before in my previous comment, the CCP is not like it was under Mao. Political propoganda, oh come on! your just speaking rubbish now, give some examples! I don't see anything as such.I HAVE heard it but in the past FROM the old days but not now in the modern China I live in, and I live in a tier 3 city, nothing like Beijing, Shanghai, etc. You are clearly against the CCP with your words, not one good thing you can say apart from bad, clearly I am wasting my time. I'd love to have a face to face talk with you and show you exactly how it is NOT as you think it is. And that goes for the world too, but then again the western media and KZbin don't like that kind of stuff as it doesn't sell so they just remove it (yea, talking of freedom of speech yea? even on western made platforms there is no such thing anymore).

[@pbc5137]

By developed country standards, housing for most working class people earning the median income is very uncomfortable.

[@canto_v12]

Hong Kong is one of the worst housing value propositions in the developed world. Incredible experience for a visitor, investor or biz leader, but built on the backs of local people living like sewer rats.

[@leealex24]

As an outsider, I think the positive non-interventionism is a good idea (Malaysia did this also especially in the 80's/90's) without that an economy will never grow rapidly. However, the biggest mistake is the government owns the land and lease to property developers which incentivizes rental to go higher and higher hence, making people harder to rent let alone buy. The government revenue should be from taxes, and other sources and not from leases. It's almost like the govt cahoot with property developers to screw the people lives.

[@nerd2544]

if hong kong raised taxes nobody would invest in hong kong anymore and will just go to other, much more developed and attractive, chinese cities like shenzhen or guangdong. low taxes is literally the only incentive for companies to work here now. strict COVID and quarantine policies also destroyed Hong Kong's reputation as a business hub and made companies all flock to SG where life has returned to normal

[@naaat]

on the flip side, Hong Kong income tax is low af

[@nerd2544]

@@naaat no use when it takes 10-20 years to save up for a house when with tax it could be halved or even less

[@naaat]

@@nerd2544 just stating a fact

[@teniente_snafu]

It obviously turns places into hellholes for the majority of its inhabitants. A quarter below poverty line is an insane disgrace. It simply does not work.

[@louischau7982]

Can you talk about the dark side of New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington etc...

[@derekzhuang9443]

You are welcome: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2O1p6Kleq5jj6c

[@apollo1694]

Can't take any criticism without saying "but the usa!!!"

[@lanxy2398]

There’s thousands of videos on that. This video is about hong kong.

[@edwardsnowden8821]

Ya, the same way before 1959 Tibet used to be Known as ShangriLa heaven, only if you overlook the crippling poverty, theocratic dictatorship, slavery/serfdom, mutilation and death for even thinking of opposing the dalai lama in any way, form or fashion. So ya hong kong was the "pearl of the orient" if you ignore the fact that CAGE HOMES and EXTREME INEQUALITY was very rampant while HK was still under British rule.

[@ankitaharwal5886]

Com-munist sympathizer spotted

[@PAO-mu6zv]

There is also a dark side of the HK public housing system that should be exposed, which leads to the reason why people who live in cage homes STILL do not qualify to move into public housing. 😢

[@samwilliams4775]

Pure capitalism and non interventionism ☕

[@CannibaLouiST]

vaccine mandate is nazism.

[@user_uif_ghg_wer_das]

"Soon Hong kong might turn into another Chinese city", It might be a good thing for Hong Kong, at least the living condition for most of people of China inland cities is not as bad as Hong Kong.

[@rxm078]

Exactly what I said, and I am a British ex-pat living in China, HK really needs a reset and China's help to make it into a great city again, the HK government constantly fail the city of HK and its people, it has done for decades.

[@freeman10000]

@@rxm078 What do the Hong Kongers think of this? I understand you really dig the Chinese Communist Party but your average Hong Konger has zero say in the matter. I seriously doubt the Hong Kong can prosper under authoritarian Communist rule. Hong Kong's brightest and most talented are leaving, the unique Hong Kong culture is being destroyed and eventually Hong Kong will become a dull, characterless "mainland city." With Common Prosperity on its way the good people of Hong Kong can enjoy being equally poor.

[@rxm078]

@@freeman10000 Why do I DIG the CCP? its always the same isn't it when someone says something actually FOR the CCP instead of against it! I live here, I live under the CCP rule for 18 years and as I am from the UK I see no difference, I am as FREE as I am here than I was in the UK. The problem with people like you and others are just like everyone thought that Covid-19 was deadly and serious, why? because it was rampped up by the western media to be this deadly and serious virus when in fact it was not, just like the CCP, you people who have especially never been here or lived under CCP rule think otherwise because you listen to what the western media drip feed you all, its sad! it is NOTHING like the western media or governments say it is, I get it that (communisim) has a bad background YES! but maybe many years ago! it is nothing like back in the days under Mao. I have no reason to stick up for the Chinese, I live here and experienced it myself so am just saying what I witness and live with. The HK people obviously think that the Chinese are gonna do some serious stuff and change there city and lives from all the rubbish that is been spread over the years about China, no governement is perfect that includes China too BUT they are nowhere near what people are saying they are in the west! Oh and you doubt HK can't prosper? lol, yea right, look and MANY Chinese cities that have prospered in a shorter time than HK did! look at Shenzhen, the perfect example.

[@edwardsnowden8821]

@@freeman10000 most billionaires and millionaires in HK made thier money by doing business on the mainland

[@jubberwocky63]

@@freeman10000 I mean, as a hker I wouldn’t really mind it if it means I don’t have to live in poverty

[@pokemon-yx27]

The faint flickering light of neon…… Hong Kong’s night streets are getting quieter……. Looking tirelessly at stars from high rise buildings…… City dreams chase twilight….. The sea breeze sighs silently…… The harbour sings a song of a lonely boat…… Memories burn like smoke…… Hong Kong is fading………

[@kiyanhakim384]

When the CCP fully takes over they will start making life better for the average citizen of hong Kong, all beit at the expense of some minor freedoms. The only ones really losing would be the super rich of Hong Kong who will need to put up with a much more powerful government

[@nerd2544]

they could already make it better if they let us vote for our leaders but they deliberately put corrupt inept puppets in charge and arrest and disqualify everyone that spoke out against them so that gullible folks like you believe the agenda they push that Hong Kong needs the CCP to save it when in reality there are plenty of activists and politicians out there who want to solve issues but since they're against the gov and not completely obedient dogs to the ccp they'll never get the chance

[@user-vv7ir1pl4j]

@@nerd2544 under the British they didn't have universal suffrage. Straight across the border atleast their isn't homeless and family's live in affordable housing that doesn't take half your life time wage.

[@nerd2544]

@@user-vv7ir1pl4j "under the British they didn't have universal suffrage" so we shouldn't have it now? lol. they didn't have iphones back then we shouldn't use them now, guys. the government themselves falsely promised universal suffrage until big daddy xi reminded them who was the boss and they retracted it leading to the occupy protests in 2014 and a turning point in localism and radicalism and 2019 was the climax. the CE carrie lam elected in 2017 wasn't even the popular one and was simply a puppet as opposed to donald tsang who was far more popular in the opinion polls. safe to say carrie has destroyed hong kong and now she's trying to use $22m of our taxpayer money to finance her own private space on a skyscraper for "administrative duties" when she's retired and thousands are suffering under poverty and the shitty covid measures she introduced lol

[@nerd2544]

@@user-vv7ir1pl4j there are plenty of local politicians, pro-china or otehrwise, who have been rallying to ban subdivided housing and force the government to build transitional housing for public housing (further amplified by the fact that throughout 2020-2021 the government was able to miraculously immediately build a few thousand blocks in a suitable location to accomodate covid quarantine within the span of a few months. (yet somehow they felt no need to do so for the poor lol). they finally decided to start building transitional housing next year but still haven't outlawed inhumane subdivided housing that doesn't exist even in the most poverty-stricken urban areas yet it does right here in the alleged "financial hub of asia" 🤷‍♂

[@user-vv7ir1pl4j]

@@nerd2544 just sounds like western style lobbying. Under the hk conditions it's normal. You say it like it's unheard of anywhere else in the world. Other countries promise greater things but don't provide

[@wonderwinder1]

This is why we must have some better form of regulation and rules for real estate.

[@shauncameron8390]

Real estate in HK is state-run.

[@wonderwinder1]

@@shauncameron8390 The land is leased from the state. That’s about it.

[@canto_v12]

@@wonderwinder1 residency rules for property buyers are too lax. But HK relies on this to keep land value high.

[@alec_baldman]

I think the thing most worth noting here- which Dom mentions early on- is that the extreme housing shortage is not inherent in the system, but is instead a policy the Hong Kong government creates on purpose to increase their land lease revenues. An amendment or democratically-elected proposal to force the government to increase the stock of land should be possible even without drastically changing the nature of the HK government or constitution.

[@stephenrichards1011]

Yep, that is the solution. The main obstacle is that the government lacks strength. It would face fierce opposition from (1) building developers, (2) apartment owners (the decrease in property values would push many into negative equity) and (3) people who are simply opposed to the government.

[@canto_v12]

Yes, this is a correct unbiased understanding, but HK's whole shtick is the low tax business environment. They are reluctant to give up that buzzword that they have been leaning on since the British days, even if it means potentially rezoning and releasing more land, and solving the housing crisis.

[@kenchan908]

As a HongKonger, what I can say is democratization was being praised as hope for the solving of the problems exists (high-rise land price and without new economic growth dynamic), but in fact it is not. Even we have democracy, people will elect the pan-democrats who has close connections to the landlords, the problem of HK will eventually even worse, and media favors landlords by not disclosing the hidden trades between pan-democrats and landlords too. (Ask the Macanese, they know the trades between Donald Tsang, democrats and the corrupted Macanese government and Chinese mainland property players) In fact, China become richer means the lose of HK ability to perform its function, because China does not need HK anymore (except for attracting foreign investment, but China-US relations getting worse means HK can do no more). Rich people rushing to Singapore, many people think it is political problem of HK, but in fact is political problem in China, as many of those rich comes from some type of corruption. HK certainly is not the safe place for them. The financial professional also has to leave, because those money goes to Singapore, they have to follow them. Democracy brings hope to HK, but in fact no matter which political system we choose, the outlook of HK is not good. Those hopes will eventually become hopeless, unfortunately.

[@canto_v12]

Historically, multi-party democracy has never yielded drastic changes such as the ones Hong Kong needs. Look at how Singapore has total government control over its housing market, providing sufficient housing for everybody. It's practically a PAP one-party state. Same with Japan dressed up as a marginally more convincing two-party system, but the LDP has never lost control of the country. I'm not saying democracy is bad. But it's not the silver bullet that some of the naive people in Hong Kong are led to believe.

[@commonhead1844]

Living in Hong Kong for my whole life and this video is true but severely over exaggerated. Whilst government housing has long waiting times, the rent is extremely low (about 200 USD a month). Citizens here pay next to no tax yet still receive free health care, incredible and cheap public transport as well as free professional government services. The government hands out monthly payments to the impoverished and during COVID have handed out a lot of money to spend on consumer goods. Also Hong Kong hasn't lost its autonomy, Xi Jing Ping recently stated that Hong Kong would stay a SAR even past its deadline in 2047. Business is booming and a honestly despite news claims, I have only seen more and more companies open up here to conduct business with China

[@didyoumissedmegobareatersk2204]

But xi is socialist won't he re distribute wealth

[@commonhead1844]

@@didyoumissedmegobareatersk2204 I think you need to understand modern-day China. Whilst it is communist in name, it follows almost non of the principles. People own private properties, assets and companies. Wealth in China is at an all-time high with many people moving up and down the wealth levels. That is for China, Hong Kong on the other hand, as the video stated, is entirely Capitalist. During Xi Jing Ping's recent trip to Hong Kong, he stated that the 1 country 2 system implementation would stay after 2047 (the end of the British-Sino agreement). This means Hong Kong will be allowed to govern itself the way its wants to.

[@sodakk17]

Always good to hear the point of view of those who are actually from the place.

[@justinng1274]

What? Healthcare isn't free, it's just at a cheap price and the system is over capacity. Hospital beds are still 100$/day in public hospitals. Public transport can take $24/day if you live far enough for cheaper rent, which is nearly same as a Mcd meal. An average meal costs $60 which is 2hrs of min. wage. Business has been dropping, GDP is dropping, and that's literally stats from the govt. Not to mention the severe brain drain. Fixed currency system meant we are literally burning money from our reserves bc we haven't matched our rates with the US yet. Unwillingness to further open up covid policies, increased competition from singapore, what more?

[@LordBackuro]

Hmm…kinda cool to hear So Xi doesn’t want to take away autonomy because it’s more beneficial?

[@S_dott]

Class video always love learning more about Hong Kong. Have to visit one day in my life.

[@canto_v12]

Well, now that Covid restrictions are gone, it's time to come on over!

[@ItsMeChillTyme]

"Purest form of capitalism", "Government owns all the land" nice video bro, very cool stock footage stitching and propagand a. Not to mention that it was not even the "purest form of capitalism" at its inception.

[@Makinen689]

Although the property price in HK is insane, you should mention salary is much higher than a lot of European countries at least compared to the UK and France and income tax is only around 10%( with the basic tax free allowance). I was earning around HKD 45000 per month in my mid 20s, a bit less than my peers and other “white collar” professionals. I was able to have my own flat, travel abroad 3-4 times a year and managed to save some money. Finding a job is so easy there. The city is safe, infrastructure is awesome. Unfortunately HK is not for the economically inactive group. You can’t be poor there.

[@robocop581]

The losers that don't have ambition are the loudest to complain about HK

[@123hhab3]

$45K per month, ha All the citizen can get admission from a good university degree? Most of people only get a normal job after graduation and they have to pay $144k debt first. Only 41.9% student can get into univesity(2022) and it is lower than 35% in 2010-2020. YOU can't be poor with a good university degree , but they are struggling on the daily cost. The salary haven't change for serveral years and the daily cost not only house price but also food, transport..... everything is increasing. Ah yes, i forget. They can't be poor if they work 2 part time job everyday. $16000*2=$32000. Work 20hrs a day and I can't be fucking poor. You are totally correct.

[@robocop581]

@@123hhab3 Typical comment from a loser

[@mrchang1741]

​@@123hhab3HKD - Hong Kong Dollars, not us dollars

[@nerd2544]

been waiting for this one :)))))))) gonna watch now edit: great vid, also perfectly timed because today/yesterday the government is holding a 'Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit' to attract investment, but theres a typhoon at the same time lol. and the financial secretary in his speech said that Hong Kong has "returned to normal and is back in business"................or so he says while on a zoom meeting from Saudi Arabia because he got COVID. 🤦‍♂

[@jennycheng3245]

Sooo heartbreaking to see elderly HK people collecting cardboard to make end meets. God blesses them all

[@user-bp5qz5jd3f]

Back in the 80s, Hong Kong used to be known as the "pearl of the east". Thanks for explaining how Hong Kong went from a pearl to a dystopia.

[@user-vk7zv3he1m]

it was always a dystopia, as a hong kong citizen I can tell you the wealth inequality is one of the most extreme in the whole world. subdivided flats are also called "nanometer flats" which is just big enough to fit a small bed, and a television. the government is very restrictive with land uses due to "it harming the environment" and "destroying wildlife" when literally the only developed land we have are on the coastline, nothing else.

[@miaouscleaumonocle]

I cannot tell whether your comment is a joke, ignorance or just colonialism...

[@edwardsnowden8821]

Ya, the same way before 1959 Tibet used to be Known as ShangriLa heaven, only if you overlook the crippling poverty, theocratic dictatorship, slavery/serfdom, mutilation and death for even thinking of opposing the dalai lama in any way, form or fashion. So ya hong kong was the "pearl of the orient" if you ignore the fact that CAGE HOMES and EXTREME INEQUALITY was very rampant while HK was still under British rule.

[@jackzhou4813]

@@user-vk7zv3he1m Hong Kong people at least have their own housing, while Japanese young people can only live in Internet cafes in Tokyo

[@canto_v12]

Hong Kong has ALWAYS been a dystopia. Just that now the poor have a voice on social media. The dark side is literally the backbone on which the glorious skyscrapers and huge capital markets were built. It’s a city of extremes-risen out of an unusual fluke in history with WW2, the Chinese war, the experiment with and eventual end of Communism, a huge labour pool with just one seaport to monopolise the distribution of its products, etc.

[@HomersIlliad]

I like these videos, but I would suggest adding an outro so the ending doesn't seem as if you've been cut off. You can even have the background music playing for a few seconds before it fades out as a way for people to know the video's ending.

[@tradetor]

Lived in Hong Kong for almost 30 years now, always been poor. My family started from the Kowloon City slum, I lived in a sub-divided home myself and now a mini-home. I got to say, it is very interesting to see that you are so pessimistic about Hong Kong. You must have been through a lot, or simply choose to focus on only the bad. For me personally, the amount of government aid, easy-to-access low-interest rate student loans, affordable health care, and constant funding for entrepreneurship; balances out the high Gini coefficient, ridiculous rent, diminishing upward mobility, and the threat to our freedom. it would still be difficult for me to see my hometown as a Dystopia There is always shit to deal with in every city and country.... and my honest feeling is, this is a relatively less stinky one.

[@tradetor]

Badly, and I would want one too. But is not like without one I cannot live happily

[@canto_v12]

As a HKer who works abroad, I appreciate your optimism despite your struggles. Upward mobility is difficult when housing is so far out of reach. HK is just a gathering place of too much global money. The local working class needs more help to get housed.

[@thomaschan1062]

At least Hong Kong's very poor are not camping in the parks and living under flyovers amongst human waste and discarded syringes!

[@Asian_Connection]

That's what they call freedom. Freedom to be stupid!

[@Turgineer]

Hong Kong's housing problem is one that cannot be avoided because city-states often have space problems. I hope a solution is found. Cage homes looks awful.

[@xr2kid]

They can literally develop a Singapore System though. Also give more land grants for Affordable housing 70% of Hong Kong is empty land. They can also reclaim for islands/land, basically Hong Kong needs to find a new direction. It's going nowhere fast. They also have the NYC/London problem of relying heavily on the super rich and if they start taxing them they flee. They need to do it anyway and rebalance the tax system. It will be painful but it will work.

[@Liv.Rodrigo]

Bro i lived in hong kong my whole life and its actually not bad

[@pinzazzzz]

Videos like this are absolutely irritating because they show a fundamental misunderstanding of Hong Kong and the situation that took place a few years ago. Literally, a murder got set free because people have brainwashed into believing that China is some kind of dystopian nightmare - ask how many people that degrade China, have actually stepped foot in that country? You literally have generations of people brought up under colonialism believing that they are "better" than their countrymen because that's pretty much the best divide and conquer tactic there is. If you think life was all sunshine and roses under British rule, you really really really don't know a thing.

[@canto_v12]

Yeah bro, my parents and I both grew up in colonial Hong Kong. They do NOT want to go back to the colonial era. Like most HKers in the 1960s, they were dirt poor.

[@Marshyboi032]

I am also from Hong Kong and I still live there and I really want to live in other countries I do I am way above the poverty line Because you know some government corruption think so

[@canto_v12]

I'm a HKer living and working in the US. If you think HK is corrupt.......lmaooooo.

[@graemewatson2296]

I had a great time living in Hong Kong. I am sad for the people now. Since the Communist Chinese Invasion, the people who could not get out have become prisoners Of the CCP. Let's get busy bringing the CCP down.

[@pinzazzzz]

What evil CCP? There's hardly any intervention which is why there are social problems in the first place.

[@canto_v12]

You're a little late with the Communist Chinese invasion, that happened in 1997. But on a serious note, I finally made it back last month after four long years of separation. It's still the same old place, and I don't know anybody who is in prison. As with any society, those who shout the loudest about oppression, and resort to extreme behaviour such as violent rioting, tend to be the more vulnerable and marginalised demographics. People with frustrated lives tend to want a scapegoat. One thing I will say is that both Hong Kong and China held on to Covid restrictions for way too long. But at least they're gone now.

[@vijaydhatrak8665]

Dark side of Europe and America please

[@saman_pradhan]

Europe already done.

[@DavidJohnson-dp4vv]

We also need one for vietnam

[@tenga3tango]

Yes, expose please

[@HN-ol7oz]

@@DavidJohnson-dp4vv Vietnam is the perfect city which never have the dark side like US :))

[@Havok1199]

@@HN-ol7oz Vietnam is not even a city, it's a country.

[@stephenjoe653]

If the generation born in Hong Kong in 1950-60 is still poor, it is a very small and extremely unfortunate group, because the baby boomers in Hong Kong have free education, and Hong Kong, one of the four Asian tigers, as long as you go to If you work hard, anyone can afford an apartment of their own. Since a large number of low-skilled mainlanders immigrated to Hong Kong from the 1980s to the early 2000s, it is impossible for them to buy an apartment in Hong Kong, and it takes 6 years or more to wait for public housing. As a result, a large number of low-income new immigrants need to live in crowded and inhumane places.

[@KL-jr5ip]

Quiet the contary, I think babyboomers borned locally are extremely lucky, whilst they might be poor in the 70's and some joined the work force quite early, but you have a skill say clothing worker, you can still make good money, for housing, they should all have moved into public housing by 80's and finished by turn of the century, but those who are able to fonosh secondary school or even the 2% whom entered university, they had milked off the best of growth, it is the 150 new immigrants that have problem

[@michaelsomething7674]

Since the Hong Kong enacted the patriot act aka national security act, what has changed? The government structure is still the same. The rule of law is still the same. Tax is still low. Properties supplies still low. What has changed is zero covid hurt hong kong and the treatment of USA China relationship has changed. It's decoupling of the two largest economy.

[@nerd2544]

government structure not the same. increased number of lawmakers while getting rid of people's rights to vote and arresting the entire opposition so it's now entirely made up of pro-china fuckwits and business tycoons who all earn more in one month than the poorest of society here earn in a year also since 2020/2021 all lawmakers and councillors and civil servants have to make a "sincere" oath to respect and love HK and China and be a "patriot", which became the government's excuse to disqualify dozens of civil servants, and many councillors also personally resigned 👏 other than that and now being unable to publicly insult the government or mention anything of the 2019 protests, you are right, nothing has changed and it's all gotten worse after COVID and Hong Kong/China's unnecessarily strict rules which have made many businesses flock to Singapore instead

[@AndyLu-hq2lw]

I think one of the reason people live in that little bed is because if you live there for awhile the government will give you a house to rent by a very low price ( usually people that are actually Hong Kong people do not live there )

[@growingup15]

you ask the question of what went wrong? but you literally answered your question at the beginning. the moment they let capitalism go free and let the "market" decide. thats where it went "wrong" Technically nothing went wrong this is all going according to plan. This is Capitalism at its finest.

[@canto_v12]

It's funny how a bit of critical thinking lands us at an entirely different conclusion compared to those maniacal rioters screaming about how "communism" ruined Hong Kong in 2019. Hong Kong is exactly what happens when you let capitalism run amok. The investor class takes control of all the housing.

[@jonathandjing1065]

HK is doomed, Singapore is the Asian financial center now. Almost half a million people already left the city, with a population of only 7 millions that tells you how bad things are

[@canto_v12]

Migration from HK to Singapore is proof that business values stability, not "freedom."

[@Kiefsti]

KZbin just recommended you to me on homepage. Easy subscription! Awesome work man 💜

[@awu92]

Hong Kong & New York are the financial centers of China and USA respectively. NY has its FBI security laws to follow. Its price of house & living cost is much higher than HK. Its gap between rich & poor is much larger than HK. Before criticizing HK, please criticize NYC first!

[@XaharXaruji]

Cage home, high property price and very skewed wealth distribution in HK are nothing new for me. But what attract me is, the use of footage from one of my favourite HK movies early 90s titled 'Better Tomorrow'. That really bring back some nostalgia. Cheers!

[@suhailshabir9305]

I love HK lived there from 1998 to 2001 the whole vibe back then city that never sleeps start ferry the beaches every thing was wonderful due for a visit next year to see my sister its always been cramped

[@castorchua]

You're in for a sad surprise. You were there in the golden era thats is now long gone.

[@lung21]

U just lived hk for 3 years. I lived there from 1981 - 2001. At that time, everything was ok. But not now,

[@canto_v12]

@@castorchua As someone who has lived in pre- and post-handover Hong Kong, people are only remembering the "good times" in the past and forget how poor the vast majority of Hong Kongers have been for most of its history. Also, in the 80s, the poor did not have social media to voice their struggles. We live in a very democratic information era so the poor have a much bigger voice now.

[@trainspotting_and_tech2023]

Hong Kong: Real life dystopia! *MTR with 70% state-owned shares:*

[@bcheung2008]

very good summary of the problems of hongkong，and totally agree that the government intentionally kept the housing unbelievably expensive. A bit short on the fact that prior to the opening of China in 1979, hongkong was already amongst world's leading exporters in many fields like toys, electronic watches, wigs, garment, and even cameras. Crediting the success only to being the gateway to China is an understatement on the hard work of the hongkong people.

[@apelsinuke]

i'm from Tokyo and saying that "an average apartment in Tokyo is 65 sq.meters" is a huge overstatement. it is much, much, much smaller than that. i would say, if you'd exchange Paris with Tokyo, that'd be about right (tho idk about Paris apt sizes)

[@bratanyaroslav3561]

Ok, redistribution of wealth cannot solve the issue if the supply of land is capped and/or controlled monopolistically. It would only drive up the price of land equivalent to the amount that you distributed. This is introductory microeconomics.

[@bananesalee7086]

now they gonna blame ccp for this

[@rxm078]

They always do! but HK's problems were there waaaaaaaay before 1997 and the CCP came back to own HK. Still though people will say otherwise.

[@AndreasViking1]

The government owns all the land in HK, yes it’s completely caused by their own failures and it’s not capitalist at all anymore

[@anatolyivanov890]

Thank you, you're making interesting videos

[@OrlandoRodriguezHK]

I have lived in Hong Kong since 1994 so I know the city very well, this video is taking things out of context in a very unresponsible way. My family lives in Spain, Colombia, the USA, Canada, and Venezuela so I have a good reference to compare. 1. The cost of food, medical services, clothing, and transportation is cheaper in Hong Kong. 2. Property is expensive but salaries are higher, a young couple can rent a flat like the one where I live. 3. A couple of primary school teachers with a monthly income of 60 thousand HK$ can afford 15 thousand monthly rent, can you do the same thing in Madrid, London, Paris, or Ney York? 4. Hong Kong's taxes are very low, services are cheap, my internet service is US$15 per month, and my electricity is US$50 5. I have Chinese friends in a middle-class level that have better flats than my family in other countries with similar jobs and educational level 6. Every city has a segment of poverty, why the video creator doesn't compare the relative size of the segments to the population? 7. I know several Chinese families that move to the USA, UK, or Canada and then came back to Hong Kong after a few years (Can you imagine why?) 8. Every large city in a developed country has poverty, but Hong kong has less than New York, London, Paris, Madrid, Dubai, Tokyo, and Sidney. 9. If the city is so bad, why the people are not moving out?

[@freeman10000]

People are moving out.

[@robocop581]

@@freeman10000 How many have moved away Einstein?

[@robocop581]

Exactly. I stopped explaining to my friends in the West what HK is really like but it’s impossible. They have already formed their opinions based on what they’ve read from the Western media

[@nerd2544]

@@robocop581 >100,000 some schools are failing to find enough students already and have cut classes/class sizes.

[@PutXi_Whipped]

@@freeman10000 NED in the comments

[@sherwin6005]

I've been in hong kong for vacation and I was amazed how efficient their transporation was. The streets are clean, no beggars along the roads, people are disciplined. But I learned through our tour guide how hard it is to have a home in Hong kong. I was lucky i was born in the Philippines. Most of the people have their own descent houses.

[@peterchang2310]

As a Hong Konger I have to say that housing was actually extremely affordable during the 90's under British colonial rule, it was only after the handover that the housing prices skyrocketed, mainly due to the influx of mainland immigrants and the lack of housing supply, the new HK government had no intention of fixing any of the problems either, which is one of the many reasons that sparkled the massive protest in 2019. Some of us may call ourselves "slaves for housing"(樓奴), as one may spend the rest of their life trying to repay their mortgage.

[@canto_v12]

I think the handover was just a convenient historical event--the housing problem began well before then. Also, remember that the HKSAR did try to fix the housing problem under CE Tung. People protested and the housing expansion was scrapped. At the time, it was our own fault for being short-sighted.

[@ktbphoto]

Hong Kong isn't becoming "just another Chinese city". It already is. Hong Kong's lost all of it's character and traits that made it unique thanks to China's intervention...

[@lottery248]

as a HKer myself. brace yourself, it is happening on you, all over the world.

[@lepetitchat123]

In big cities yes, but none I have visited measures up to hk. I am a hker too

[@karigalann2756]

Nicely explained

[@bananesalee7086]

36m² is big for Paris, not average

[@rosampa1980]

Really?

[@bananesalee7086]

@@rosampa1980 yes, most people living in paris are living under 30sqm, and most people working in paris are not living in Paris because it is painfully expensive

[@pbc5137]

@@bananesalee7086 Well atleast they have the suburbs of Paris to live in. Hongkongnese dont have anywhere else to go but Hong Kong. There are no suburbs in Hong Kong.

[@saman_pradhan]

Thank you for this one. Hong Kong is a very sad story, especially after the 2019 Chinese rule, most people leaving the country for UK.

[@rxm078]

You don't know nothing, your just assuming and going with what the western media says!

[@sciagurrato1831]

Unhinged.

[@M_Jono]

You are so brainwashed by western media

[@saman_pradhan]

@@M_Jono so which media should I see? Chinese govt media? BTW I watch from Hong Kong media itself.

[@robocop581]

Most people? What a stupid comment. How many millions have moved to the UK may I ask? Last count it was less than 120,000 out of 7.7 million people

[@kalasend]

Few important facts omitted or underweighted in this narrative. In short "No help from China" and "Nowhere to go": 1. HK has no control over the migrants from China. China approves who can migrate to HK. The China migrants fall into 2 extreme in the spectrum: low income labors and professionals/high-net-worth individuals. In other words, China migrants exacerbate HK's already extreme wealth imbalance. 2. Unlike cities in other countries, where low income folks can choose to move to other cities of lower living cost IN THE SAME COUNTRY, majority of HK natives do not consider themselves Chinese and therefore many(especially the younger) resist the idea of working/living in China. This leaves them no choice but to either stay(and help contribute to ridiculous housing cost), or emigrate to foreign countries(which is often option for a select few). PS: post-2019, many countries open up immigration policies for HKers. So problem #2 is seeing some relief...for the younger and adventurous souls at the least

[@canto_v12]

Moving to mainland China also entails a significant language barrier that many Hong Kongers are not willing to overcome. Also, different laws, career opportunities and residency restrictions. China does not have freedom of movement and still uses a fairly strict residency system to prevent mass migration from overloading cities.

[@Wisepati]

Unregulated Capitalism ends up with oligarchy and monopoly. Capitalists are heartless and greedy. Why do people feel it is a viable economic strategy for the long term?

[@canto_v12]

Because people are not thinking long term health, only short term profit. The mentality of "If everyone is milking the system, why shouldn't I?"

[@giviko1709]

Okay so you say the problem is caused by the free market, but you also say that most of the land is zoned in such a way that it's essentially illegal to build homes. Then, you blame the lack of homes on the free market, after saying government (technically) made it illegal to build homes. That's like saying you didn't eat something after eating it.. Man, you debunked yourself.

[@ismaelmakalou8382]

You make the best videos

[@Surfrz3]

Hong Kong's conglomerates originally became extremely wealthy from the opium trade. Then they simply bought and controlled everything.

[@Alpha-um4uq]

This is amazing now now u did all the asian tiger economies u put the effort in these bro 👏🙌

[@Asian_Connection]

I don't know what they are complaining about. In USA you have to pay rent to the government as long as you own it.

[@Spicy_guero]

Oh you’ve lived there? Have you walked a mile in their shoes?

[@misterbig9025]

So it was the British fault that homes are so expensive in Hong Kong. Thanks

[@Asian_Connection]

You think HK is expensive now. Wait till the mainland Chinese move in

[@canto_v12]

The problem originated in the colonial era but it's ridiculous to blame Britain now. Hong Kong needs to fix its own problem. China's not going to do it for us--they have bigger fish to fry.

[@PadraicLey56]

This guy spread fear and was one-sided, with a low subscriber rate. That is why. I was born in Hong Kong. The middle class is doing well, much better than the US. I still have good size apartment in Hong Kong. President Ronald Reagan said Hong King did capitalism better than the US with a 15% flat tax and no sale, inherent, or property tax. There was no expensive army to maintain, and the island was tiny and easy to upkeep. Infrastructure is cheap. All profits go to production and enjoyment. Chinese families take care of the elder. It's a great place if you are lucky to be born into it and receive a world-class education. In the 60s, the government build value housing for the people, bring Hong Kong standard to the Pearl of the Orient. Just another great story in Asia. Students like me had the best math and science grade worldwide, in the top 5 for 40 years. We can't have a country with low motivation and education to be successful. All thanks to Chinese culture, which makes Asian the most capable people in the world. Its one of the thriving growth places without any resources to speak out. Even water we brought from China. It's all human ingenuity. If you go to HK, you can see that people are more intelligent, faster, and better workers with a can-do spirit. Soon, she will benefit from China and expand her growth rate in the mainland even more. Hong Kong was a pivotal city in helping China in 1990 to modernize and become the world's largest economy. Mainland people love to visit Hong Kong; it is a model for China's economy. It is better to be poor in an advanced economy than in many countries. Could you look up the ranking of Hong Kong in all standards of the world? People wish they have the opportunity Hong Kong offers in their lifetime.

[@lordkingston]

Singapore is on the same path. 😢

[@sammadison1172]

There is not a shred of evidence for capitalism being the problem. It's government, and the housing model the government used is very Chinese, that's how all of China operates in land leases for taxes. Obviously Hong Kong could do more to help their rapidly aging unskilled population.. it has great wealth. But it also has great wealth. So it's sort of hard to say the economic model is flawed, it's the government oversite and bureucracy

[@altcoin5631]

Preventing new home construction is NOT the purest form of capitalism. Not even close.

[@timnguyn20]

Had HK people ever wanted to return to the mother land or 'cause the lease had expired and China took it back? If the wish of the HK people was to return back to China, well they and their generations have to live with that don't they. Decision...decision!

[@cheesypotat0es]

In America you get a tent on the sidewalk....I'd rather have a cage home.

[@lanxy2398]

in America being in the situation of homelessness is almost always based around bad practices. In the US you can get a job and eventually still pay rent in some cities or areas even if it’s a fast food job. in HK that upward mobility is cut off. The living costs is far far too high for people to continue

[@besmart2350]

at least you have some fresh air in a tent

[@canto_v12]

During the early Covid days, a tent out in the woods would've been safer than living in a cage home like this. Covid spreads like wildfire with everybody's windows being so close to each other.

[@casecao8412]

Yeah but you don't pay like 20k USD to live in a tent lol

[@matibor]

2:15 I like how 65sqm in Japan is larger than 69sqm in New York. Wow. The world is truly fucked up.

[@beefcrunch]

Sure it is bad,but you can get 1000HKD a month flat in public housing.Which has alot of shops and food,but you will have to wait for at least 5 or 8 years.Some even waited for 10 I think.

[@beefcrunch]

@@ashtonng It's not that bad,I've seen 8000HKD houses with a balcony.Tho its expensive,you can get a 100HKD flat in a old apartment building(if you like cockroaches that is)

[@hominglau7693]

​@@beefcrunch Well. First, HKD8000 houses with a balcony...even if it exists in Hong Kong. It will be located on some island far away where there are only 2 scheduled boats going back to Sai Kung every day. And if you sleep on the street or sleep inside McDonald it is HKD$0, why bother with the old apartment building with cockroaches? Nobody growing up in Hong Kong will dare to say "It's not that bad." when it comes to housing. For public housing 5 years are optimistic. You need to fulfill some requirements to be "qualified". e.g. You have a family and the whole family have a low income, or have a disabled family member....or your kids are mentally retarded something like this.

[@beefcrunch]

There a pretty big house in the Tai Po city area (not that city),my father lived there for a bit and it was fine.Just cockroaches.Not the cramped cage home.

[@beefcrunch]

@@hominglau7693 Well there is one,I lived there once.

[@lanxy2398]

I think you’re putting a bandaid over a much larger issue. Do you think a 5-10 year gap is a small amount of time? Do you think people should live in squabble in the country they’ve lived in for decades?

[@paulmac8450]

It’s important to understand that the uk only leased Hong Kong. They couldn’t sell something that is only rented. And overcrowding is a result of people fleeing the mainland particularly after communist takeover of China. Look at pictures of Hong Kong when the British arrived. No one lived there!

[@frankyong2607]

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon peninsula were ceded in perpetuity to Britain by treaty ending the Ango-Sino Opium War - unlike the New Territories on mainland China on a lease for 99 years. When Britain first took over Hong Kong, fishing villagers were already there.

[@davehses755]

Partially true only. HK island itself was not leased. Frank Yong's comment is more accurate.

[@irinagal6789]

This is extremely sad on so many levels . I wish human society can learn from these experiments

[@matuspradid9215]

We will never learn

[@lepetitchat123]

Human society is inherently cruel and selfish. HK is just a very extreme version of it. I wanted to flee since I was a teen.

[@BelieveInScienceWISe7]

All of you people don’t know what it’s feels like to live in Mongolia. We have 3 million people no skyscrapers, one small city with high amounts of traffic, corrupt politicians and because of it people make only 1.10 USD per hour. And the worst part of it being public transportation… we only have 1980’s Korean buses that Korea don’t want

[@BelieveInScienceWISe7]

There is no education in Mongolia, I would have to say I’d rather live in China than in mongolia

[@lepetitchat123]

@BelieveInScienceWISe7 comparing everything to the worst isn't a way to make your point. It doesn't mean the thing supposedly better is supposed to be good or right. Why didn't you compare hk to a place much better then？

[@andie20-24]

Looks very much like the future of California and New York. In fact, such extreme wealth disparity is already happening today

[@homeoffice3524]

Idk. I have coworker from Honk Hong we talked about life a lot. Life in London is way more expensive then Honk Kong. We are not so far from cage homes here. We just call them box rooms. If you are simple working class. Cleaner, cashier and that kind of jobs box room is 70-90% from your salary here. Yes t it everything is black and white and you can be lucky and live better(bigger room or small studio and manage to eat) but that’s the same in Honk Kong not everyone is living in cage houses. And this 20 years to buy a property sounds paradise to when you compare prices and salaries here. 😂

[@ronbaltazar8773]

The phrase "the most expensive city" is not to be literally interpreted in the context of the cost of real estate or cost of living, this is always in proportion to the average salary in that country. Putting into consideration that the average salary in Hongkong is only 2KUSD, it is indeed more expensive than London or New York where salaries are way higher.

[@sparksmacoy]

No human who is not a criminal should be forced to live in a tiny cage, shame on Hong Kong for doing this to its people.

[@BelieveInScienceWISe7]

Shame on corrupt politicians all around the world

[@DrCryn]

Well hopefully now, with more control of the Chinese government, poverty in HK will be eliminated and a wealthy situation for everyone will increase.

[@nyqon]

The modern-day slavery where your life’s worth is only money. HK simply got there earlier than most.

[@canto_v12]

This is the only outcome of unregulated capitalism. The players get into government and the government becomes just another player. The working class will eventually starve into violent rebellion, as has happened in several major countries in the 20th century. Hong Kong is nearly at the end of its 50-year capitalist game. How the HKSAR aims to fix an investor-owned property market, and adapt to a China that is no longer poor and no longer needs Hong Kong, is critical to its fortunes in the coming decades. More critically, how Hong Kong behaves will also determine its prospects to renew its status as a separate territory after the expiration date in 2047. If it's doing a crap job running itself, China has no reason to let it continue.

[@wildfoodietours]

It's amazing how far Hong Kong has come. Being from Hong Kong, I wish it all the best.

[@castorchua]

Did you watch the video?

[@budgetking2591]

@@castorchua he did not lol.

[@budgetking2591]

Come to shit you mean, most % of people living below poverty line of almost whole asia, really amazing, bad in a bad way.

[@fredfredburger5150]

@@budgetking2591 He got paid a few cents to make the comment.

[@charliem.8531]

i was travelling to hong kong 2 times, in 2016 and 2018 and i can say, that HK people are absolutley friendly.. i never had any problems there, i even made some great friends there.. i know people are living really close together, but for me it was like the safest place ive ever been.. i guess US great cities should be much more dangerous..

[@zaiks0105]

Past and history ... With CCP, who still wanna live in HK?

[@holycow3355]

Past and history ... With whinging poms who still wanna live in HK? HK has always been a shit hole under pommy rule, living under a rock ???!!!! NO REPLY READ.

[@zaiks0105]

@@holycow3355 You go live there cow ... "No reply read" Sure, man

[@PutXi_Whipped]

Sure I would. Next!

[@tkw3864]

7.5 million people live in Hong Kong. Next question……..

[@canto_v12]

CCP has been there since 1997. HK has seen several chapters of ups and downs already as a part of China, with Covid being the worst by far. I was there just last month and it's coming back to life.

[@wc4109]

Yes, HK's economic model is kind of F&#'d up.... How many governments around the world rely on land sales for revenues??! Why HK housing is what they are today... Start collecting taxes! It's a more sustainable model of govt revenue.... and why most countries around the world do this instead....