Man dies in Hong Kong cyber-café, his home for three years

A 41-year-old man who was found dead in a cyber café in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, on Wednesday had “lived” in the café for three years, local officials said.

At 10 am, the staff of a 24-hour cyber café on Un Chau Street found a customer consciousness on a seat and called police, the Apple Daily reported. Paramedics arrived and found that the man was dead.

The deceased man had worked at a restaurant about 500 meters away on Fuk Wah Street. He also had another part-time job in Yau Ma Tei at night as a takeaway staff.

Staff said the man had lived in the cyber-café for three years, hoping to save money to support his wife and daughter in China’s Shenzhen, Ta Kung Po reported.

His employer said the man told colleagues a few days ago that he was unwell and felt pain in his chest. After an investigation, police found nothing suspicious, but the cause of death will be determined after an autopsy.

The cyber café only charges HK$42 (US$5.63) for customers who stay overnight, from 10 pm to noon the next day. The man only paid HK$1,300 a month to get shelter over the past three years, much cheaper than a subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po.

According to a survey from non-profit organization Caritas, a 45 square foot subdivided flat in the district cost HK$4,062 per month.