The Hong Kong government has adopted a new 21-indicator framework to define poverty, shifting away from a measure based solely on economic factors. Officials say the previous approach overestimated the number of underprivileged residents.
The government announced the change on Thursday in a 224-page report. It introduced the concept of social transfer values for the first time, referring to the effective income families gain from subsidized public services such as housing and healthcare.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who leads the Commission on Poverty, said the word poverty should not be viewed from the economic aspect alone. He added that the targeted strategy now covers emotional support, living space and support for children.
Experts have called for multiple measurements to be used, arguing the new approach makes it harder to assess the city’s overall situation objectively.