Brick Slave

Flats in Hong Kong are known to be expensive. How expensive?

More expensive than flats in Japan, London, New York and Paris.

Do you know which flats are the most expensive and desirable in Hong Kong?

Luxury flats with a sea view? Detached houses on the Peak? Wrong.

It's the cramped subdivided flats.

Why are people in Hong Kong so ready and willing to become brick slaves

for just an area of several hundred square feet? That's how it's always been.

Our predecessors taught us that we must get a shelter at all cost, right?

But some specialists have done the math.

For someone in Hong Kong

to buy a flat that costs HK $5 million,

he needs around HK $2.4 million

for the down payment and miscellaneous expenses.

Assuming you earn $30,000 a month,

That's 80 months of your income.

Even if you save up at the normal ratio,

you'd still need to save for 13.5 years before you'll have that sum.

That means I don't stand a chance of buying a flat then?

Not necessarily.

If you're ready to make sacrifices, you can still do it.

Simply speaking, there are several levels.

Level 1:

Don't care about what you wear. Don't eat any good food.

Level 2:

Don't chase new technology or go on holidays.

Final level:

Don't go to weddings or funerals.

Don't see your relatives or friends.

Never show up to any events.

Hello, my name is Lau Yiu-ming. I'm 32 years old.

It only took me ten years to save up enough for the down payment.

I've already bought my first flat.

What's my secret? I found a partner.

We saved up together. That way we saved it in half the time.

You're so smart.

We saved up half a million dollars first. Then we got a second mortgage.

That's how we bought our first house sooner than other people.

Hey.

Don't try to trick me. I'm not.

I'm leaving.

Please don't. It's right ahead.

Where?

One, two, stop. Right here.

Where are you?

Right in front of you. OK. Take off the eye mask now.

Look. Are you surprised?

Look, we can use the windowsill as a bed. Then the room will be more spacious.

Will you marry me?

Annie, these past 14 years have been hard on you.

I know I'm not a high-flyer.

But I promise you that I will bring you lots of happiness in the days to come.

Please marry me.

One month later.

Brother Ming, have you left home yet? Today is a big day. Don't be late.

Don't be a disgrace.

You know women's emotions are complicated on a day like this.

Anyway be careful and watch out.

He looks like a Korean movie star. But he's broke.

32C, 24, 36. No way. She's had plastic surgery.

The watch is a knockoff. He has cheap taste.

She's cute. But a flat figure.

And she's so short.

She's got a model's figure. Too bad she did Botox on her face.

Hey, there's a new guy.

The tall and handsome guy with a white boutonniere.

He looks handsome.

His height and the build are good.

Attractive.

Dear guests, welcome to Love Me Bar.

After dancing for so long, I'm sure you must all be hungry.

You can eat while you chat or just eat. Or maybe you don't want to eat?

As for what you eat, choose yourselves.

You look so fit. Your biceps are bulging. How do you train?

What do you do? Are you a firefighter?

No, I'm a part-time model. Actually I'm a life guard.

You're a part-time model. So you work irregular hours?

I drive to work. I live in Choi Hung Estate.

I live in Choi Hung Estate.

Choi Hung Estate(a public housing estate)!

I've finished my drink. I'm thirsty. I'll going to get another drink.

I teach history at a university.

So you're really a professor. Do you live in staff quarters?

Yes. I live with my mom.

I live with my mom...

Oh. Hey, please excuse me. I see a friend. Let's talk later.

I got a divorce two years ago. My kid is four years old now. I'm...

You have to go to work. How can you look after your kid?

I live in a Home Ownership Scheme flat.

I live in a Home Ownership Scheme flat.

There are three bedrooms. I hired a helper to look after my kid.

Home Ownership Scheme flat? Where do you live?

Shau Kei Wan. On the waterfront..

The price of the flats there appreciate really quickly.

Yes. Let's exchange our phone numbers.

What's your number?

I just bought my first flat.

It's a private residential flat. Around 600 square feet.

Private residential flat?

Amazing.

Hi, my name is June. Do you have a Facebook account?

Why don't we exchange phone numbers?

Get out of my way. All of you. I'll kill whoever gets in my way...

Hi.

I'm Auntie Angela. What's your name?

My name is Jack.

Auntie, you're so old. You shouldn't look for a boyfriend here.

Miss, that's age discrimination. I paid.

So?

I didn't come to compete with you guys.

I'm looking for a boyfriend for my three daughters.

They're 15, 18 and 23. They're really beautiful.

You paid for one to look for three targets?

Miss, you're so calculating. All men would be scared of you.

Hag, are you picking a fight?

Why are you yelling at me like this?

Knock it off please.

Why don't I put my phone number on the group chat, OK?

OK. Great...

What is there to eat?

I can't believe this.

The curry fish balls don't taste like curry or fish balls.

The Hokkaido king crab didn't come from Hokkaido.

It's cheap stuff from the roadside parallel import stores.

The Parma ham's from the Philippines.

Even the pineapple is from the can.

This is totally wrong.

Is she exaggerating?

Come on. Have this.

Thank you for your help today.

All the girls liked you. The other losers weren't reliable at all.

I'm sure the girls would complain if you hadn't showed up.

This is your first time organizing a speed dating event.

Of course I couldn't just sit back.

This is indeed lucrative.

There's a saying that one mustn't be a middleman or a guarantor.

But you must be a matchmaker.

I make more money doing this than as a bartender.

No wonder people say that.

I want to do this full-time. Do you think that's a good idea?

Don't even dream about it. Rent in Hong Kong is so high.

You'll just be working for the landlord no matter what you do.

You managed to make some money today

because your boss let you use his bar today.

If you want to do this full-time, you'll need to rent a place for the gathering.

You need to rent an office too. There are lots of miscellaneous expenses.

You won't make any money at all.

Are you done talking?

If my conjecture is correct, you're actually trying to stifle

a brilliant youth's determination to become an entrepreneur.

Do you know you're killing a potential matchmaker for the city?

Wrong. I'm trying to stop a stupid youth from daydreaming.

You're the boss today. There's something you haven't done yet.

Of course I'll pay you.

Red packet? Are you serious? How could you play with me like this?

I'm most grateful...

It's a fact that you owe me money.

I'm giving you a chance to make repay with your body.

What do you lose? You're OK, young man.

I wish I could repay my mortgage with my body too.

That will take years. And you'll be an old man by then.

I don't do speed dating to make money. I'm just doing it for you.

Ever since that cheap woman Annie betrayed and ditched you,

you've completely neglected your appearance.

A man can feel hurt. But he mustn't become despondent.

He can be broke. But he can't be sloppy. You're both despondent and sloppy.

You've bought a flat now. You're a brick slave now.

You don't have time to be depressed because of love.

Save your time for the developers.

I know. I just need some quiet time to myself.

I've already taken all my leave. I'm going back to work tomorrow.

Everything will be back to normal. I won't need to borrow from you again.

Are you really that popular?

You're the one who's popular.

You added my number to the group chat. Everyone thinks I'm you.

They keep calling me. Any of them your target?

No. None at all.

Hey, there's a girl who said your food was really bad.

She threw up after she ate it.

I didn't make the food. She should talk to the supplier.

Should I bow and apologize to her and give her some coupons to make it up to her?

She should expect quality food.

She paid $1,000 to attend your party.

Oh. I see. You've fallen for her.

What does she look like? What's her name?

Let me look for you.

Hey...Hey...You owe me an extra $8,000.

What else would you like to eat on such an important day?

I've already decided. For starters, I want toro salad.

For the first course, I want black truffle with scallops and French goose liver.

Of course, main course will be A5 wagyu. For dessert, it would be perfect if...

You think we've won the Mark Six lottery?

They're so expensive. How can I afford that?

You asked me what I wanted to eat. I just said it offhand.

Actually I'll be so happy if you don't take me to a cafe.

I've bought all the food.

But I don't know if I'll still have a chance to cook them for you.

Are you Mr Lau Yiu-ming?

Yes.

Please sign to acknowledge receipt.

Marry me please.