Poverty won't be tackled until more speak up for the poor, forum hears
Growing inequality took centre stage at the final 'Redefining Hong Kong' debate with calls for tackling poverty to have a higher priority
How one of the world's most prosperous cities manages to let nearly a fifth of its population exist in poverty is a question that bothers many.
Bad policies contribute to Hong Kong's widespread poverty and the government seems unwilling to tackle the issue, according to a panel of speakers at the year's final "Redefining Hong Kong'' discussion, hosted by the South China Morning Post.
The government talks about statistics ... but I don't see any concrete action
"The government talks about statistics and data, but I don't see any concrete action, I don't see compassion," said Fermi Wong Wai-fun, director of the ethnic minority rights group Unison. "The government may admit that there is poverty, but you don't see political commitment or any will to eliminate poverty."
With 1.3 million people - nearly one in every five city residents - considered poor, it will take more than cash handouts and subsidies to improve their lives, experts said.
In September the city revealed that one in every three elderly people is poor and one in every five children is poor.