Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. mandate
    • ex. Safety standards mandate passengers to fasten their seat belts.
  2. subdivided
    • ex. She lives in a small subdivided apartment.
  3. substandard
    • ex. The school closed because the building was substandard and unsafe.
  4. a landlord
    • ex. Many landlords rent out small apartments in the city.
  5. a renovation
    • ex. Renovations in the hotel include new bathrooms and furniture.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Lawmakers in Hong Kong have passed a new law to mandate better living conditions in subdivided apartments. These small homes are made by dividing larger apartments into tiny units. Many of them are substandard, with little space, shared toilets, or no bathroom sink. About 220,000 people, including workers and students, live in such homes.

The new law says each unit must be at least 8 square meters (approximately 5 jō) in size, have its own bathroom, and meet safety rules like windows and fire detectors. Landlords will be given time to make changes. If they fail to improve their units, they could face large fines or even prison.

Officials said many units will need renovations to meet the new rules. However, some people living in these tiny apartments worry that the changes may cause rent prices to rise and make housing harder to find. To help with this problem, the government plans to build more public housing and provide temporary homes for low-income families.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.
Photo Credits: The Associated Press

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Housing and Living Conditions

  • Lawmakers said apartments must be at least 8 square meters (approximately 5 jō) in size. Do you think this is a good rule? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Some apartments in Hong Kong are substandard. In your opinion, what makes a home substandard? Discuss.
  • In many big cities, space is limited. Would you prefer to live in a small apartment in the city or a bigger home outside the city? Why do you say so? Discuss.

Housing Costs and Public Housing

  • Some people in Hong Kong worry that rent prices may rise because of the new rules. Do you think this could happen? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • The Hong Kong government plans to build more public housing. Do you think this is a good solution? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • What would your “ideal home” look like? Discuss.