People usually associate West Kowloon with high-rise properties designed by international architects - and the luxurious lifestyle which they promote. But in the same area in the district of Sham Shui Po, thousands of people struggle daily with poverty and cramped conditions.
Ho Hei-wah, director of the Society for Community Organisation, said Hong Kong's wealth gap was most stark in Sham Shui Po.
'The line between the rich and poor has grown even more distinct as rows of luxury residential high-rises are built on the harbourfront, monopolising the beautiful sea views.'
Mr Ho said the development of West Kowloon should not be just about luxury properties. It should include improving the living environment of the poor in the district.
'We say that Hong Kong is a modern and prosperous city, but do we hear the voices of those living beneath the poverty line? They struggle day after day, never getting any closer to living stable lives. In this wealthy society, the poor are given nothing but the cold shoulder,' he said.
According to the Commission on Poverty paper in 2005, Sham Shui Po has an exceptionally high number of elderly, impoverished, unemployed, low-income families and single parents. In 2004, the average monthly household income in the district was HK$11,500, the lowest in Hong Kong, compared with an overall median of HK$15,300. The unemployment rate was 1.4 per cent higher than the overall average of 7 per cent. About 11,200 children and youths in the district came from Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipient families.