High-density living, migratory status, and perceived crowding : A study of juveniles in Hong Kong

Based on a questionnaire survey of senior secondary school students, this study examines the determinants of perceived crowding of juveniles in Hong Kong, a city that has accommodated generations of migrants from mainland China and elsewhere in the world and is renowned for its extreme densities. The analysis is threefold. First, it identifies factors directly affecting perceived crowding such as home density, housing tenure type, and environmental referent. The next stage, then, examines what factors determine home density. It is found that juveniles in both public- and private-sector-owned housing tend to have significantly more housing space than those residing in rented housing. Newcomers to the city enjoy less housing space compared to more established Hong Kong residents. The third stage analyzes the sorting of households into housing tenure types. New migrants are most likely to be private renters. Over time, the difference in home density and housing tenure types between students with locally born parents and those with mainland-born parents becomes smaller. However, no such trend is observed for students of overseas backgrounds.