Chinese University of Hong Kong Press Poverty in a Rich Society: The Case of Hong Kong

Hong Kong's income inequality is greater than that in any developed economy. The growing unequal income distribution and poverty in Hong Kong have aroused public concern. This book is a timely and important opportunity to advance the theory and practice of poverty and social exclusion measurement, and to conduct policy relevant analyses in Hong Kong. Review Poverty in a Rich Society makes a timely and valuable contribution to understanding the different facets of poverty and social exclusion in Hong Kong.--M. Ramesh, National University of Singapore How actively and effectively have the Hong Kong society and government responded to the widening income gap and the more serious poverty issues in the city? Government spending on social security, welfare, health care and education programs has increased significantly and the government Commission on Poverty has been operated to solve the problems. Are these measures effective? Or are there any inadequacies? The book answers these questions and on this basis provides suggestions. The book is a must read for all those who are concerned about the people of Hong Kong.--Hoi Wai Chua, Chief Executive, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Readers will find comprehensive perspectives on the study of poverty, including subjective and objective measurements, health and education issues, social exclusion, and social capital. The importance of public programs and policies to strengthen social justice and reduce income disparity has also been addressed. This is an insightful book for foreign researchers and students to understand the phenomenon of poverty in Hong Kong.--Kate Yeong-Tysr Wang, National Taiwan Normal University This book provides an important critical perspective on Hong Kong society and on the social problems that have not been eradicated by decades of free markets and economic growth. The authors show how policy deficiencies in the areas of social security, taxation, health, housing and education have prevented the fruits of economic growth from being widely shared and have contributed to high and entrenched levels of poverty. Together, the papers present evidence and arguments that make a compelling case for why reform is urgently needed to bring genuine prosperity to Hong Kong and all of its people.--Peter Saunders, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales This collection represents the state of the art on poverty studies in Hong Kong and scholars and policy makers have much to learn from the contents.--Jonathan Bradshaw, University of York About the Author Maggie Lau is an assistant professor in the department of public policy at the City University of Hong Kong.