Home as a safe haven? : social harms and everyday life in sub-divided units in Hong Kong

Abstract

The social problem of high-density living and its negative impact on individual well-being has attracted significant public attention. According to the Census and Statistics Department‟s recent report (2017), there are 90,000 sub-divided units (SDUs) in Hong Kong, with approximately 20,000 people living in an area of 62.4 square feet. To date, we know relatively little about the effects of high-density living on individuals and their families and the everyday experiences of men and women living in SDUs in Hong Kong today. The focus of this research study is the range of harms experienced by tenants living in SDUs and how the sub-divided tenants cope with such harms and other difficulties in high-density living on an everyday basis. This study adopts the social harm theoretical approach (Hillyard and Tombs 2004) and is based on semi-structured interviews with six residents living in SDUs in the neighbourhood of Kwai Chung in Hong Kong. The findings highlight at least four types of harms experienced by tenants living in SDUs - physical harms, financial or economic harms, emotional and psychological harms, and cultural safety harms.