the ground floor of a "tong lau" was used as shop space, but a cockloft was often built on the upper space in front of the partition wall of the kitchen, or utilized as working area. rooms on the upper floors were divided into smaller rooms and sublet as units by owners. they would only accommodate bunk beds. the middle of the floor was common space for tenants to eat and use. bathrooms and kitchens were also shared amongst the tenants on each floor. tenants paid for electricity and water on a monthly basis.