HK unites in fight against poverty

He brought rice and fresh fruit for the people and announced a HK$10 million donation to Food Angel from the Li Ka Shing Foundation.

"If Food Angel has opportunities to expand its services, the foundation must continue to support its programs," Li said.

Chow, the Food Angel senior manager, has witnessed it grow slowly from a small-scale charity program, virtually unknown to the public, into an institution. The group served only 30 meals a day at the start. Now, it serves 8,000.

The program is aiming for its services to reach all five of Hong Kong's poorest districts. "We are attempting to collaborate with more suppliers, charity organizations and to expand services to more areas," Chow said.

Its third kitchen, in Kwun Tong, will begin operating in the second quarter of this year, and will be the largest of the three.

Chow estimates that once the new kitchen opens, the program's output will double, benefiting more underprivileged people.

However, human resources are in short supply, and Chow is appealing for more volunteers. They not only help to alleviate poverty among older people, but also assist in protecting the environment.

Helping children

More than 1.37 million residents are living below the poverty line in Hong Kong.

Some 233,600 children in the city-20.3 percent of the young population-are living below the poverty line, according to the latest Poverty Situation Report.

Local NGOs are helping; while some focus on the elderly, others are doing all they can to help these children.

Ng Yee, (a pseudonym), is one of those underprivileged youngsters. Ng's father, the family's sole breadwinner, only earns about HK$10,000 a month to support the 12-year-old, her stay-at-home mother and two younger brothers. Some 40 percent of that HK$10,000 is spent on rent on a public housing estate in Kwai Chung, New Territories.

The family is covered under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme. Managed by the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department, CSSA provides a financial safety net for basic needs, with eligible applicants receiving monthly cash allowances of HK$2,455 to HK$6,355, based on need.

Ng's mother said: "I want my children to do well at school. If they are good at their studies, their chances of social mobility are higher."

These views are shared by Lam, the chief executive, and educators and social workers.