Chan Kwok-ki: Poverty alleviation to include property, dependency factors, not just income

The government is considering introducing new criteria for poverty alleviation.

Chief Secretary for Administration, Chan Kwok-ki, announced today (July 18) that future poverty measurements will not rely solely on income as an indicator but will also consider factors such as property ownership and whether individuals depend on others for support.

In 2013, the government defined the poverty line based on a single income measure, setting the threshold at HK$3,600 for single-person households and HK$7,700 for two-person households. During the 2020 pandemic, the number of people living in poverty in Hong Kong surged to over 1.65 million. The current administration has proposed a targeted poverty alleviation strategy, targeting groups including the elderly, subdivided flat households, and single-parent families, encompassing 950,000 people. A new poverty line will be established as part of this initiative.

Chan highlighted that the previous poverty line, which focused only on income, failed to reflect the real situation accurately.

He stated that the new poverty line will include multiple indicators such as income, property, and whether individuals have someone to support them, ensuring a more comprehensive assessment.

Chan emphasized that poverty alleviation is not just about financial aid; otherwise, merely adjusting the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) line will suffice.

Regarding the Strive and Rise Programme, which targets secondary school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those living in subdivided flats, the aim is to tackle intergenerational poverty. However, the program lasts only one year. Participants will automatically join the alumni association afterward, which is also limited to two years, according to Chan.

Chan remarked that success in this context does not mean becoming wealthy; it is more important that impoverished students find jobs they enjoy and are interested in.

Additionally, there has been recent public concern over young people lowering their incomes to qualify for public housing. Chan addressed this issue, stating that while the government will assist grassroots citizens, young people should not consider living in cheaper public housing their ultimate life goal. He noted that the government provides adequate educational resources, and young people should strive for upward mobility through their efforts.