SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK

1
SOSC 103DSocial Inequality in HK

• Lecture 15 Poor People in Hong Kong

2
Poverty in an Affluent Society

• Who are the poor people in Hong Kong?
• What are their living conditions?
• Public and social attitudes towards them?
• How are they being protected by the social
  security/ welfare system?

3
Poor People in Hong Kong

• Unemployed people (long-term)
• Aged population, Single parents, and
• those who suffer from chronic illness
• The working poor
• Unskilled labour, Contract workers
• Offspring of the existing poor

4
The old poor
Receiving less than 2,000 per month per head
(CSSA) Additional income/ resources
5
The working poor

• Long working hours
• security guide 12 hours/ day
• cleansing workers 10.2 hours/ day
• Low income
• Cleansing workers 3,600/ month (12-15/ hour)
• Outsource workers
• E.g. work in public toilets (lt3,500 vs
  5,300-5,900)

6
Outsource workers

• Short-term employment
• 6 months, 1 months, 1 week, 1 day/ 1 night
• Intensive and heavy workload
• Lack of legal protection
• Wage reduction
• Holidays
• MPF
• Insurance

7
Common characteristics

• Low education and limited skills
• Weak social network (socially isolated)
• Unstable and low household income
• Lack of bargaining power
• In terms of income and other benefits
• Choice between keeping the low income job or
  applying for social assistance

8
Districts of Poverty

• Poor people are clustered in
• Sham Shui Po (new immigrants, ethnic minorities)
• Kwun Tong (aged population, working-class
  families)
• Yuen Long (new immigrants, single-parent
  families, unemployed families)

From HK's Disdvantaged - Christine Loh's
Newsletter, 23/10/04
9
Living Standard - Housing conditions - Expenses
on food - Transportation costs
24 October 2004
Sham Shui Po is the poorest district in Hong
Kong. Income gap between the rich and poor
families is 25 times. 10 of the population is
living below poverty line.
10
Common Characteristics

• Geographically concentrated
• Low income ? Limited economic activities ? Low
  employment opportunities (vicious circle)
• From financial problem to other familial problems
• Labeling/ discrimination
• Geographically isolated
• Limited interaction with the society
• Lack of resources and support from the society

11
Intergenerational Poverty

• Life chances of the children from low income
  families
• Educational opportunities
• Employment opportunities
• Social network and support
• Living qualities

12

• Readings
• Wong, Hung (2003) The Quality of Life of Hong
  Kong's Poor Households in the 1990s Cost of
  Living, Income Security and Poverty Situation