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With a population of nearly 7.5 million and very little developable land remaining, Hong Kong has become the least affordable real estate market, making so-called 'coffin cubicles' common. United Nations have condemned these nightmarish living spaces as "an insult to human dignity," but according to the Society for Community Organisation, for some 200,000 people, it's still the only alternative.

"That day, I came home and cried," Benny Lam told National Geographic, describing his experience of photographing said tiny apartments. With his series "Trapped," Lam seeks to illuminate the suffocating local dwellings that stand outside the reach of Hong Kong's glamorous neon lights.

"You may wonder why we should care, as the Hong Kong population isn't a part of our lives," Lam wrote on his Facebook page. "They are exactly the people who come into your life every single day: they are serving you as the waiters in the restaurants where you eat, they are the security guards in the shopping malls you wander around, or the cleaners and the delivery men on the streets you pass through. The only difference between them and us is [the quality of life]. This is a question of human dignity."

"From cooking to sleeping, all activities take place in these tiny homes," said Lam. To create the 'coffin cubicles,' flats are usually illegally divided into 15 - 120-square-foot (roughly, 1,5-12 m²) 'apartments.' To illustrate, Wong Tat-ming, 63, who is on benefits after sclerosis in his leg left him unable to drive a taxi, lives in an 18-square-feet dwelling for about $307 (HK$2,400) a month.

More info: Facebook (h/t: nationalgeographic)

#1

Coffin Cubicles

Benny Lam Report

Tersa Smith
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It makes me feel so grateful for my home.

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    #2

    Coffin Cubicles

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    Jenni Ester
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Where are the windows!!! At least one window. This is terrible!

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    #3

    Coffin Cubicles

    Benny Lam Report

    Emre
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd be dead in 2-3 minutes because of claustrophobia

    Gayle Warren
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I started to get short of breath when I saw the first picture

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    İdil
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh god just commit a minor crime and live in a jail, you'd have more room. And possibly new friends that could come over to your cell.

    Doreen Ball
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't imagine - between the steel walls and no ventilation

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    Amanda Barnes
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This makes me sad but it's better than sleeping on the streets. At the very least you have a place to lay your head down.

    Rose Jones
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the worst one I've seen, and without the distraction of all the clutter in the other pics I actually feel deeply ill at ease.

    Fairsher
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    omg I can't breath just looking at this!!!

    Trish McBride
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one is so small omg I'd have a panic attack. This is really sad, I had no idea it was like this there... :(

    Liliana V
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mind is officially blown.

    FABULOUS1
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would not last more then a minute.

    Corey Dahlheim
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of my rack on the ships I’ve served on

    Eric Nelson
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, this would be a nightmare for big, tall people! If you're overweight, forget about it! And of course claustrophobics would flip out!!!

    Andrei Dima
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It actually looks like you are in a coffin Jeez

    Randall Thomas
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    that's the kind of place police find people murdered in

    Azure Adams
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    how do you get in and out of this one?

    Lord Vader
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just hang a hammock, bet it would fit.

    Ginette Rochon
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No air, no day light, it's enough to go crazy....I know I would suffocate....

    Susan Williams
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I looked at this picture and immediately thought, "I would die."

    CV
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I got a minor claustrophobic attack after seeing this

    Donna Oades
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't believe how minimalistic this one is. Where's this dudes belongings, does he only own the clothes on his back and the waistcoat hanging up on the right?!

    Norma Titsworth
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree! Just looking at these places I feel my anxiety level rising!

    Coreen Kerr
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why the hell isn't the "government" stepping in & helping? By limiting families to 1 child per family only caused the death of thousands of female babies. I know for a fact a large majority of these Chinese families have been lucky enough to immigrate to my Country Canada why aren't they fighting for those left behind??

    Jane Bateman
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    God no... I just couldn't live like this

    Rasa Nekrošienė
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one doesn't have much studf... 😥

    Thuong Vu
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The funny thing is why they must divide the already super tiny space like that? Why not living together and at least having some air to breath?

    Karol CH
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely the worst one of the pics. But ther must be some more room. Looks like a corridor. There is almost no personal items. What we should do? Another shocking story we could do nothing about it.

    Diksha Deshpande
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Keeping your food next to your feet... I can't.

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    #4

    Coffin Cubicles

    Benny Lam Report

    James Floyd
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The man on the TV should do something about this

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    #5

    Coffin Cubicles

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    Chris Taylor
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    S**t just go live in your car at least you'd have windows and a choice of view... actually if you live here I guess you can't afford one

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    #7

    Coffin Cubicles

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    Sheralyn
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dear god. It's indeed like lying in a coffin.

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    #8

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    #9

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    varwenea
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ironically, the red sign on the far left is a saying to improve wealth; perhaps he should add a few more of those signs.

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    #12

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    JillVille Child Care
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Forced minimalist living... wow, I couldn't imagine. My heart hurts for these poor souls.

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    #13

    Coffin Cubicles

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    Lou Wow
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I suppose having a TV helps take their minds off their situation.

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    #14

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    Debra Starr Moon
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Amelia, I don't think 'boredom' is a primary concern for these poor souls. Lou, where exactly would he put a small dog when there isn't enough room for him? And Tiffany...lotion for a reason? Really? SMH.

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