Events organiser Adrian Lam wants to marry his long-term girlfriend, buy a place to live and maybe have a child. But all these seem increasingly unlikely on his pay of HK$22,500 ($3,900) a month, slightly above average by Hong Kong standards.

"We don't qualify for public housing because our combined salary is above the threshold but if we want to buy an apartment, it's going to cost us far too much. Of course some people say if we spend less and save every dollar, we would be able to afford an apartment," the 29-year-old said, adding that renting is "putting money into a sinkhole".