Hong Kong’s welfare failures are a damning indictment of the government and the international community

David Meyer, senior lecturer in management at Olin Business School

 

The Hong Kong government’s recent proposals to deal with the social, economic and political issues that motivate the protests reveal a leadership running off the track. It is essentially throwing money around in the hope that it sticks and reaches over one million people.

What are these proposals? Lower the age threshold for the elderly to enjoy reduced public transport fares, cash allowances for up to three months for low-income workers who lose their jobs or are unemployed, housing subsidies for people waiting for a public flat for more than three years, an increase in statutory public holidays to benefit blue-collar workers, and subsidies for protest-hit business sectors.

None of these deal with the core issues of inadequate housing, poor education, and low quality public health and social services. To add insult to injury, the government proposes a ludicrous HK$10.6 billion subsidy for the failed Ocean Park resort.

Read the full piece in the South China Morning Post.

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