Lee Dismisses Absolute Poverty in HK

One of the rare occasions Lee smiles to promote Hong Kong

It's been one year since John Lee Ka-chiu became Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and what has he achieved in that time?

For one he is the face of Hello, Hong Kong, but sadly the permanent pained expression on his face has not motivated visitors to come to the city in droves as he and his government had hoped.

Last year at Lee's swearing-in ceremony with Xi

He seems confident that he can raise Hong Kong's global ranking which slipped from fifth to seventh place in this year's World Competitiveness Yearbook, which had previously won top spot in 2018.

However, as the political climate in the city deteriorates by the day, is it any wonder it will be an uphill challenge for Lee to even change people's perception of Hong Kong after the 2019 protests, the implementation of the national security law, shut down of Apple Daily, jailing over 10,000 people, and the departure of over 200,000 residents?

But he sounds like a broken record, reiterating what previous leaders have said when it comes to tackling serious issues like poverty and housing.

The Census and Statistics Department's latest numbers show that almost one-quarter of Hongkongers in 2020 or 1.6 million were facing poverty before taking into account government handouts.

Many elderly in Hong Kong are in poverty

While Lee claimed last year to have a poverty alleviation strategy, a recent survey had found less than 30 per cent of residents are satisfied with the government's measures.

Yet again the chief executive is studying how to define poverty.

"The poverty problem in Hong Kong is relative because absolute poverty does not exist in Hong Kong," Lee said. "But regardless of the statistical methodology used, it won't hinder the direction of the targeted measures in my policy address to tackle intergenerational poverty."

Why this constant need to define poverty when it's quite obvious when someone is in poverty by asking them how they manage to live day by day. Why does it have to be a numbers game. And for Lee to completely dismiss the possibility that absolute poverty exists in Hong Kong means he doesn't even recognise 1.6 million people exist.

When will Hong Kong get rid of cage homes?

Hong Kong is a wealthy city. Well it was before it spent billions on building the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, on police operations during the 2019 protests, propaganda exercises and so on. Imagine how say a few hundred million could help many people by building decent housing for the poor and helping them get back on their feet?

But no, the authorities don't want to admit there is poverty in Hong Kong and then by extension ignore one-quarter of the population.

This is Lee's attempt to sweep them under the carpet in order to get a good report card from Chinese leader Xi Jinping. 

Will be interesting to see what Xi says... better to have some concrete results, maybe, Mr Lee?

Who will Greet Xi on June 30?

Pupils at Wong Cho Bao School asked to hotel quarantine

There is greater speculation that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will come to Hong Kong on July 1, as school children who will be attending the 25th anniversary handover ceremony will have to quarantine in a hotel for a week.

They won't even be within breathing distance of Xi, but no one's taking any chances, though the chances of cross infection in the hotel is more highly likely!

Parents of Wong Cho Bao School, which is run by the pro-Beijing Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, were asked to sign up their children to greet visiting dignitaries at the airport.

Is Xi the mystery guest on June 30?

The primary school-aged children will have to quarantine on their own! And the government -- well the taxpayers -- will foot the bill.

The notice encouraged parents to sign up their children for this "rare and honourable mission" to greet unspecified visitors at the airport on June 30 and then see them off the day after.

Hmm... so it's Xi, right?

So far there is no word on how many parents have allowed their children to do this "rare and honourable mission"...

Meanwhile a non-profit advocacy group is calling on the next government in Hong Kong to do more to help underprivileged youth.

The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) urged incoming chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his administration to help them climb the social ladder.

SoCO urges next government to help youth

In a small online survey of 100 people between the ages of 15 and 25, almost 60 percent said they chose not to "lie flat", a new slang word to describe young people rejecting the rat race and doing the bare minimum to get by.

But some of the respondents said their financial status and the economic environment had forced them to adjust their expectations.

One is Kacey, a second year university student who is also working part-time. She has given up on her goal of buying her own flat.

"Sadly, when property prices were soaring, [young people's] pay was not increasing much, and it's a reality that we were forced to accept. When I saw the sky-high housing prices, my goal of buying or renting a flat that I am satisfied with, while not having too much financial burden, slowly faded away, so I started to lower my expectations," she said.

"Even if I apply for a public housing unit alone, it would still take years, and I might end up only getting a bed space. Whenever I think about the future, I feel helpless."

Some adjusted their expectations of owning a flat

The bleak reality of the housing situation is too much for any young person to fathom, let alone those in families in financial straits.

What hope do they have of ever making enough money to rent a flat let alone own one when they are already struggling to study the best they can but finances are holding them back.

If Lee wants to engage with the next generation, he should go back to his roots -- his humble roots -- and engage with people like Kacey to figure out how the government can help give a leg up to these people who need hope and a lot of financial support to help them realise their dreams.

Because if security is his priority, then surely ensuring the next generation is cared for should be of prime concern too?