Big Issue founder John Bird says Hong Kong poor need welfare springboard
UK magazine entrepreneur says welfare system that is springboard not safety net, with better education, can help city’s people escape poverty
The British founder of The Big Issue, the magazine sold around the world by homeless people, says the Hong Kong government must understand the "social nuances" of being poor before it can help those most in need.
John Bird, 67, met Hong Kong government officials on Friday to discuss how they could tackle poverty and homelessness ahead of Wednesday's policy address, which is set to focus on the city's poor.
He was in town as a guest speaker at the Make a Difference conference, which wraps up today in Kwai Fong.
"Governments are one of the crudest forms of social engineering you can imagine because they are not very good at social nuances. They could never invent an aeroplane because of all of the nuances, calibrations."
He voiced support for the establishment of a social welfare system as long as it did not create a dependent community.
"Social security needs to be a springboard, not a concrete safety net. If you hit the safety net, you never get over it. If you get training, education and social improvement then it works."