Poverty In Hong Kong

As I approach a bend on the banks of Shan Pui River, I see Ah Bo playing with fish. He chuckles as he chases a shoal of scared fish. "They are like Wonder Boy's cabinet ministers, mate," Ah Bo says as he greets me, "they are running scared."

As we enter Ah Bo's new luxurious cave, specially constructed upon Ah Bo's insistence, Tick Tick, the Shan Pui River stray dog greets us. The interior of Ah Bo's cave is even better furnished than a Beverly Hills house. It has all the facilities and amenities a croc could ever want. And then some more! A panel of LCD televisions lined up on a wall; monitor activities of Wonder Boy and his cabinet ministers via CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras. After all, Ah Bo is the Beijing assigned observer of Wonder Boy's administration.

While eating breakfast served by a sexy village girl, now under Ah Bo's employment, we discuss issues concerning Hong Kong. "Ah Bo," I ask, "What are your thoughts on poverty, the poverty commission, and the recent suggestions by Article 45 group member Ronny Tong?"

Ah Bo thinks for a while and answers, "Mate, there are many factors exacerbating the poverty in Hong Kong. But the main reason is property prices and real estate market in Hong Kong."

"Really?" I ask. Ah Bo nods.

"Almost a decade ago, the Housing Authority of Hong Kong decided that people applying for public housing could only select New Territories or far off areas. In other words, 'Urban' public housing flats, on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, were no longer available to the new applicants. Do you know why?" Ah Bo teases my intelligence.

"Because, the government realized that scarce land on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon was too precious to sacrifice for low-cost public housing? And it would be more profitable for the government coffers to sell that land to tycoons at exorbitant prices, who then, would construct pigeon-hole-flats and sell them to the suckers at even more exorbitant prices?"

"Exactly!" Ah Bo pats me on my back.

"Therefore," Ah Bo continues, "the new Mainland immigrants and young couples who could not afford rents in urban areas were forced to move to the New Territories. Imagine rows upon rows of 40 storey flats with one or two scattered malls with little or no employment opportunities, and you get the picture of Tin Shui Wai and similar 'New Towns'. During the last decade, most factories in the 'Industrial Zones' around such new towns who employed the New Territories residents, have relocated to Mainland China. At the same time, salaries and employment opportunities in the urban areas are also falling. And to make matters worse, Tung's pro-cartel government destroyed small businesses by restricting licenses, implementing impractical laws, and snatched the livelihood of the lower middle class through various policies. The two monopolistic supermarkets selling everything from vegetables, fish, pork, poultry, etc. is one example. In past, these were sold in wet markets, even in the 'New Towns', and provided employment for a considerable group of lower middle class families. Now, if you visit wet markets in most districts, you see fewer vegetable, meat, or poultry stalls, and even they are almost running at a loss. Therefore, the government decided to sell such markets and car parks under dubious plans like Link REIT."

Ah Bo pauses as he drinks his favorite rice wine. I look at the genius with awe and wonder.

On one hand, we have Financial Secretary Henry Tang leading the so-called poverty commission of Hong Kong. Who, after almost one year has been unable to pinpoint, or has deliberately avoided pinpointing the poverty problems of Hong Kong.

On the other hand, we have sincere but brain-cells challenged Ronny Tong who personally wants to conduct surveys to identify the basic factors responsible for poverty in Hong Kong. And even Ronny Tong needs several months before he can come up with statistics or answers.

But here we have Ah Bo, the genius. Who, in less than five minutes identifies and explains the root causes of poverty in Hong Kong. What can I say? Obviously, since 1997, Hong Kong is run by a bunch of idiots!

Ah Bo wipes the trickles of rice wine from his huge jaw and asks me, "what happens if the residents of New Territories cannot find jobs in nearby areas, cannot afford the cartels' expensive public bus fares to travel to urban areas for employment especially because the salaries are too low, and cannot operate a small business because the pro-cartel government wants to snatch it all and give it to monopolistic supermarkets or service providers?"

I think for a while and answer, "they would be forced to rely on dole payments, or in other words, social security welfare – CSSA (Comprehensive Social Security Assistance) in Hong Kong!"

Ah Bo smiles and winks at me, "You are a fast learner." I feel happy by the genius’ praise.

"So, in other words," I ask, "the Hong Kong Government is creating poverty, or created poverty under Tung's regime, and therefore the denial or reluctance to acknowledge the cause?"

Ah Bo nods. "As long as the Hong Kong Government keeps propping up property prices, and suckers in this city voluntarily enslave themselves and their lives to property tycoons, there will always be poverty in Hong Kong. As you can see, the ridiculous rents and high prices are definitely making us uncompetitive compared to our other Asian neighbors."

I draw in a deep breath. Ah Bo is profound. I want to stay longer and learn more, but I am in a hurry. Therefore, I wave him goodbye as I rush for an early morning meeting with Wonder Boy Donald Tsang and Rafael.

Ciao!