Letter

Dimming hopes for Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the most prosperous, glittering and developed cities in Asia. Unfortunately, it is also notorious for its income inequality.

The vast majority of the poor in Hong Kong is poorly educated and likely unskilled migrants from the mainland. Devoid of permanent citizenship, they are deprived of public pension, unemployment benefits and subsidized public housing during their first seven years of residence in Hong Kong. They are usually frustrated and dejected in looking for a job. Their bitter struggles render their children equally destitute. This intergenerational poverty has greatly widened the wealth gap and further complicated the longstanding social rivalry in the city.