The problem of poverty in Hong Kong has been in the spotlight again recently, but it has to be asked what our government is doing about it.
The city's Gini coefficient reached "a record high" of 0.537 last year ("One in six people struggling with poverty in city", November 14).
Having an official poverty line can help officials have a clearer idea about the lowest stratum of society. This can make it easier for the government to come up with a comprehensive strategy to deal effectively with the problem. Officials can ensure a better distribution of resources if they have a clearer picture.
However, academics have pointed out that a single poverty line is insufficient.
A set of multiple poverty lines can define people in different sectors with different needs - for example, in-work poverty, old-age poverty and new-migrant poverty.
In its first six months, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's government has been disappointing. Some policies aimed at helping people have failed to get through the Legislative Council.