Poverty In HK

Global Poverty Statistics

• At least 80% of the people in the world live on less than $10 per day.
• 1 in 9 suffer from chronic malnourishment (more than 800 million people around the world)

Poverty in Hong Kong

• 1 in 5 people live in poverty in Hong Kong
• The poverty line for one person is HK$3,275 per month
• 40% of the Hong Kong population live in subsidised public housing
• 100,000 people live in coffin, cage homes and rooftops
• Over 1,000 people are homeless
• Hong Kong has the highest income gap between the rich and the poor of any developed economy in the world
• The minimum wage, introduced in 2011, is HK$28 per hour
• There are 650,000 working poor

Source: Feeding HK

What kinds of NGO’s are out there fighting poverty and how can we help?

There are various NGOs in Hong Kong that are contributing to the fight against poverty, including

• Oxfam
• Feeding HK
• Crossroads
• Society for Community Organisation

How can we help? We can help by volunteering our time to help in charities such as Crossroads, or participate in community service in less well-off districts such as Yau Tsim Mong, Mong Kok, doing charity work such as helping out in community centers. As well as this, donations can be made to local charities to support people in need in HK.

Is it time that everyone takes action to truly eliminate poverty?

Yes, it is time that everyone starts taking action to eliminate poverty, especially in a well off city such as Hong Kong, where the wealth gap is among the highest in the world.