The South China Morning Post published a photo essay on November 23 last year, headlined “Still living a subdivided life”.
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The text accompanying it read: “The administration of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu plans to enact new laws for subdivided flats next year, permitting only registered dwellings that meet specific criteria to remain in the market as “basic housing units”. The regulations will require a minimum size of 86 sq ft, a ceiling height of two metres, proper windows, at least one toilet per flat and adherence to fire and structural safety standards.
“The Post found the vast majority of subdivided flats in Sham Shui Po fail to meet the proposed standards.
“This means poor living conditions for the residents including a semi-retired construction worker, who has been living in a cramped 40 sq ft flat and paying a monthly rent of HK$2,400. Meanwhile, a couple in their 60s pay HK$2,000 per month for a cramped 50 sq ft flat, where their bed sits next to the kitchen, separated only by a small nightstand.
“They and other residents of subdivided flats in Sham Shui Po allowed the Post’s Eugene Lee to photograph their homes and share some of their lives.”
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Photographer Eugene Lee’s photo essay on Wednesday won the top prize for best human interest photography in the World Association of News Publishers’ Asian Media Awards 2025. Below, we showcase his award-winning pictures.
