Would Singaporeans need to stay in partitioned units of 5.8 square metres in future?

Hong Kong’s mini flats

As I read the article, I felt troubled that many Hong Kongers, including their children, are staying in partitioned units, which might only be the size of their own beds (5.8 square metres). Can you imagine paying US$520 monthly to rent such a space? It is crazy that developers are building mini flats that ranged from 11.9 to 18.6 square metres (sqm), with one unit at 18.6 sqm being sold for US$360,000!

Singapore’s small flats

Few months ago, when I went to HDB Hub to look at the 2-room to 5-room flats, I was thinking that the smallest 2-room flexi flat (36 sqm) would not give a comfortable living environment if 2 or more people (a family with a young child) stay in the flat. It would be comfortable for a single person and two seems a crowd if one has been used to living in bigger space. Now imagine half the size of the flat for a family in Hong Kong?

Kampung days and older flats

I remember the times when I stayed in kampung where there were vast open spaces with trees, ponds and rivers. I am thankful that the flat that I currently stayed in, which was bought three decades ago by my parents, provided comfortable living space for the family. Older flats are much better because there are more floor space and also more neighbourhood shops in the vicinity.

Worrisome future for Singaporeans

I worry what the future generations of Singapore will be faced with. Economically-wise, Singapore is on the same level as Hong Kong. Before the property cooling measures few years’ ago in Singapore, property prices were also rising rapidly. For the past 15 years, flat floor spaces have been shrinking when flat prices have been rising. I feel an uneasiness and hope that Singapore would not move in the same direction as Hong Kong, whereby our own citizens could not afford a reasonable and comfortable living space to call home. Already many Singaporeans need to pay for their flats using 30 years of their working lives. Imagine having to slog for the same number of years, paying for a place that is less than 20 sqm but costs one-third or even half a million dollars in future!