Despite its booming economy, more than 20 percent of people in Hong Kong are living in poverty, more than double what it was two decades ago, according to a study released Sunday. Chua Hoi-wai, director of the Hong Kong Council for Social Services which commissioned the report, said he was worried about the widening wealth gap, notably among people aged 45 to 64.
"Most of the people in this age group are low-skilled workers. They either don't have a job or are on a very low salary," he said. "The most worrying thing is that these people are usually the ones who support the whole family. If they were on low income and unemployed, the whole family would suffer.
"Although we have seen an economic recovery here, people at the grass-roots are not benefiting from it," he told AFP.
The report found 1.33 million of the nearly seven million who live in this southern Chinese territory earned as little as 3,000 Hong Kong dollars (384 US dollars) per month in 2006.
That was up 112 percent on the 1986 figure, a huge rise even after taking into account that Hong Kong's overall population has increased by a quarter since then.
Those aged 45-64 and living under the poverty line recorded the biggest growth in the past five years, up 34 percent, while pensioners in the same category grew 19.5 percent.
Last month, the Hong Kong government said vibrant exports on the back of a buoyant economy had led to a 6.3 percent growth in the second quarter and it raised its growth forecast for 2007. But labour unions said their figures show the number of people on low-paid jobs has risen sharply, as has the number working more than 55 hours a week.