Social News
Written by: Huang Yongyu
2020-12-23 20:13
Last update date: 2020-12-23 20:14
The Government today (23) announced the "Report on Hong Kong's Poverty Situation in 2019". Last year, Hong Kong had a poor population of 1.491 million and a poverty rate of 21.4%, an increase of 85,000 from the previous year.
After the government’s policy intervention, the poor population was 1.098 million, and the poverty rate was 15.8%, an increase of 74,000 from the previous year.
The government specifically mentioned that the worsening of poverty among working households reflects the significant impact of economic factors.
Affected by social incidents last year, the outbreak was connected again.
The tourism industry has become the hardest hit area and has fallen into an ice age. Mr. Ou worked as a cross-border tourist bus driver. The family of three used to earn about 30,000 to 40,000 yuan per month, but their income began to plummet last year. Now the family’s income is only 10,000 yuan per month. Being stretched, I have to borrow food from the company in recent months.
Mr. Ou said that in the past, family life and income were considered "medium". If calculated according to the latest definition of the poverty line, a family's income fell below the poverty line and became a new poor family under the epidemic.
He anticipates that his family situation may worsen again, and he has already considered moving to a sub-house. "Life is pressing, but I hope I can't make it so far."
The cross-border bus industry has suspended work since early February, and the industry urges the government to provide subsidies.
(Profile picture)
The poverty line for a 3-person household is 16,600 yuan
With reference to the latest poverty report, the poverty line for one-person households in 2019 was 4,500 yuan, an increase of 500 yuan over the previous year; the poverty line for two-person households was HK$10,000, the same level as last year, ending 9 consecutive years of rising.
As for three-person households, the poverty line rose to 16,600 yuan; the four-person household poverty line rose to 21,400 yuan; the five-person household poverty line rose to 22,100 yuan; the six-person household poverty line and above was 23,000 Hong Kong dollars.
The report mentioned that the increase in households with three to five persons was the lowest in ten years, only between 1.1% and 2.8%.
The government also mentioned in the report that about 73,500 new poor people were added in 2019, of which 35.7% were working households.
("Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2019")
Poverty of working households worsened
The government also mentioned in the report that about 73,500 new poor people were added in 2019, of which 35.7% were working households and 5.7% were unemployed households.
Compared with the past few years, the increase in the poor population was mainly concentrated in non-economically active households. The situation last year was significantly different.
The government believes that the worsening of poverty among working households reflects the significant impact of economic factors.
The income of cross-border bus drivers has changed from 30,000 to 10,000 due to social events and epidemics
Mr. Ou has been a tourist bus driver for more than ten years. In recent years, he has mainly been a cross-border tourist bus driver.
He is the main economic pillar of the family and supports a family of three. However, he has been out of work since late March this year, "relying on friends to hire casual workers and guaranteeing employment allowances to survive."
He said that before the social movement last year and the outbreak of the epidemic this year, a family's income was about 30,000 to 40,000 yuan. In the past six months, under the subsidy of the employment insurance plan, they barely maintained an income of 10,000 yuan. His wife was working part-time in the beauty industry, but the epidemic Under the circumstances, beauty salons were repeatedly asked to close their business, suddenly becoming "zero income."
On February 3, the Hong Kong Government announced that it would close the four ports of entry from the Mainland to Hong Kong. At that time, most cross-border bus services were also suspended.
(Information Picture/Photographed by Lu Yiming)
Although income has plummeted, living in Hong Kong is expensive, and the monthly rent is close to 12,000 yuan. "Although the school is closed, the tuition fee must be paid."
Qu lamented the tremendous pressure in life. This year, he almost used up his savings. "I have used it seven or eighty-eight. There are many details in the family, and ordinary people will not save a lot of money."
He said frankly that in the past, family income was also considered "medium", and at least there was no need to worry about food and clothing, but the impact of the epidemic was so great that the family suddenly fell below the poverty line.
Falling into the poverty line but not eligible to apply for CSSA
Ou also pointed out that the colleagues around him generally face similar situations. "Some people are squeezing the house, or there are two children, and even some children have just been born."
In response to this group of "unemployed" people, the government earlier relaxed the CSSA eligibility for those in need, but he reluctantly pointed out that because the assets exceeded the limit, they were not eligible.
There is no work on weekdays, so Mr. Ou has to rely on a friend to introduce him to do some casual work. "As a Hong Konger, I don’t want to stop my hands. I have been with my friends to buy vans and follow cars, and earn 400 to 500 yuan a day. ".
On February 3, the Hong Kong Government announced that it would close the four ports of entry from the Mainland to Hong Kong. At that time, most cross-border bus services were also suspended.
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The epidemic is repeated, and customs clearance is indefinite. Many drivers have been waiting and hoping. It is still empty. "Other industries may be able to operate. Even if there are few people, it is possible that Hong Kong people will fall into the street. But the tourist bus The driver really has no mosquitoes."
The job security plan ended at the end of November, but a fourth wave of epidemics occurred in recent months, which severely hit many industries.
The government announced the fourth round of the anti-epidemic fund earlier, but cross-border bus drivers are not among the beneficiaries. Mr. Ou said frankly that he felt helpless.
Mr. Ou said frankly that he had never thought of "being patience", and now he has "borrowed tens of thousands of yuan" from the company. Hope to survive the difficult times, it is expected to last one or two months at most. "I hope I can return as soon as possible. Guan, don’t eat for yourself, all houses and enterprises have to eat.”
He also hopes that the government will see the plight of employees and provide cash allowances.
He described that the current mentality can only save money on food and clothing. If the situation is worse, he will even move from a private building to a sub-house. "Life is compelling. I hope I can't make it one step further."
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The Social Association promotes the establishment of unemployment assistance and relaxes restrictions on WFA
The Hong Kong Association of Community Organizations believes that the report reflects that the poverty situation in Hong Kong has further deteriorated. Last year's anti-amendment conflicts and this year's new crown pneumonia have severely hit the economy.
Many low-income families face unemployment and underemployment. Many of them cannot apply for CSSA. It is recommended that the government set up an unemployment assistance fund with an allowance of 80% of the normal monthly income, with a ceiling of $16,000 and a maximum of 6 months allowance. To alleviate poverty.
The Social Association also urged the government to relax the wage restrictions on applying for working family allowance.
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