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Brian Cassey: Cage Dogs - Hong Kong

Regarded as one of the richest cities in the World, boasting over forty billionaires and more Loius Vuitton shops than Paris, Hong Kong holds a dark secret - the Cage People.

Many thousands are forced to live in 6 foot by 2 and a half foot wire cages stacked three high and up to twenty to a room by unscrupulous landlords. Inmates share one common tiny grubby bathroom with no cooking facilities. The alternative to paying around 200 US dollars a month for a cage is a life on the streets.

Debatedly marginally better are the cubicle cage homes - boxes 6 foot by 6 foot stacked on top of one another, where many families live.

With the continued state of the Worlds economy and a rising influx of cheap labour into Hong Kong from mainland China it appears that the situation for Hong Kongs "Cage Dogs" will only worsen.

© pics by Brian Cassey 2009

   
Retired street walker Kong Sui Kao, 64, in his Kowloon cage in a cramped room alongside 17 other cages. © Brian Cassey 2009
   
Yan Chi Keung, 57, suffers from mental illness, receives no government assistance,and is condemned to a life in a Hong Kong cage. © 2009 Brian Cassey
     
  
Yan Chi Keung, 57, suffers from mental illness, receives no government assistance,and is condemned to a life in a Hong Kong cage. © 2009 Brian Cassey
   
Retired coolie 79 year old Tai Lun Po has lived in a Hong Kong cage for thirty years. © 2009 Brian Cassey
   
8 year old Ka Ying shares a 6 foot by 6 foot cubicle cage home with her mother. They share a tiny dingy combined kitchen and bathroom with 16 other families. © 2009 Brian Cassey
     
  
Yan Chi Keung, 57, suffers from mental illness, receives no government assistance,and is condemned to a life in a Hong Kong cage.© 2009 Brian Cassey
   
Former Chinese restaurant worker 60 year old Tang Man Wai (right) is resigned to life in a Hong Kong cage. © 2009 Brian Cassey
   
Retired street walker Kong Sui Kao, 64, in his Kowloon cage in a cramped room alongside 17 other cages. © Brian Cassey 2009
     
  
Retired coolie 79 year old Tai Lun Po has lived in a Hong Kong cage for thirty years. © 2009 Brian Cassey
   
Retired street walker Kong Sui Kao, 64, in his Kowloon cage in a cramped room alongside 17 other cages. © Brian Cassey 2009
   
Former Chinese restaurant worker 60 year old Tang Man Wai looks out of the window of the room that houses eighteen cages. © 2009 Brian Cassey
     
  
Retired coolie 79 year old Tai Lun Po has lived in a Hong Kong cage for thirty years. © 2009 Brian Cassey
   
Former Chinese restaurant worker 60 year old Tang Man Wai is forced to spend what little money he has on take away foods as the cage homes do not have cooking facilities. © 2009 Brian Cassey
   
Retired coolie 79 year old Tai Lun Po has lived in a Hong Kong cage for thirty years. © 2009 Brian Cassey