The government cannot do too much to solve poverty as it is already struggling with a deficit and has no control over unemployment, a top adviser said yesterday.
Central Policy Unit head Lau Siu-kai said steady economic development was the key to improving people's lives and the government could not devote itself to fighting poverty alone.
'The government's main task is to strengthen the economy, stabilise social order and set policies with clear goals to attract more foreign investment which will boost our economic development and create more jobs for the poor,' he said.
Speaking after a forum on Pan-Pearl River Delta development, he added that economic development continued to be the key issue in the coming policy address.
'Fighting poverty is not the major issue on our agenda. Economic development still tops our list. Given the budget deficit, the government cannot do too much to solve poverty,' he said.
He urged non-government organisations and businesses to help fight poverty, which he said stemmed from the widening gap between rich and poor.
