Growth of small apartments in Hong Kong: Trends and resident perceptions

Abstract

This paper explores the reasons behind recent growth of small apartments in Hong Kong, often dubbed microapartments’ or ‘nano-flats’. Although small apartments are nothing new in Hong Kong, the proportion of small apartments among new completions has increased since the early 2010s, especially in the urban area. This paper considers possible reasons behind the phenomenon, including demographic trends, affordability trends, and government policy measures. In addition, the paper presents findings from a survey research which investigates the profiles of residents of recently completed small apartments, including their socio-economic background, household size, housing expenditure, and subjective perceptions of living space. The findings indicate that a significant proportion of small apartments are occupied by single professionals. Furthermore, a significant proportion of residents express that living space is not enough, although other factors such as proximity to public transport are considered as compensation. The paper considers whether these findings have any implications for recent debates about space standards.