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Equal Opportunities Commission
Opinion

People with disabilities in Hong Kong need jobs, not just handouts

Alfred C. M. Chan calls on the Hong Kong government to lead not just by providing more material help, but also by hiring more members of this disadvantaged group in the civil service

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More than 100 students took part in a campaign in 2011 to promote the social integration of people with disabilities. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
Alfred C. M. Chan
The fact that income inequality is serious in Hong Kong is not news. The Gini coefficient of this global financial centre is a scathing 0.537, placing it among the ranks of developing countries like Namibia and Haiti. Ever-rising living expenses, especially sky-high rents, have left nearly one million people, or one in every seven, in poverty, according to the Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2015.
Life is even harder for people with disabilities, who make up 7.4 per cent (499,400) of the overall population, as the government’s 2013 poverty situation report on disability suggests. Of this figure, which excludes those institutionalised or in collective households, about 180,000 are of working age (18 to 64), and yet only 39.1 per cent of them are economically active.

Society expects the social security system to act as a safety net for this vulnerable group. In fact, nearly 80 per cent of people with disabilities in Hong Kong fall within the system. However, the assistance for people with disabilities – a monthly allowance of either HK$1,650 or HK$3,300, depending on eligibility – is less than most are aware of. In addition, to be eligible for these allowances, people with disabilities cannot receive the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance or the Old Age Allowance at the same time.

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An elderly woman makes a meagre living by collecting cardboard boxes. Ever-rising living expenses, especially sky-high rents, have left nearly one million people in Hong Kong, or one in every seven, in poverty. Photo: Edward Wong
An elderly woman makes a meagre living by collecting cardboard boxes. Ever-rising living expenses, especially sky-high rents, have left nearly one million people in Hong Kong, or one in every seven, in poverty. Photo: Edward Wong

Study shows Hong Kong’s disabled face harsh employment reality

Encouraging more people with disabilities, who are capable of working, to join the labour force can lift some of the financial burden on society. And, as the workforce continues to shrink as a result of population ageing, any measure to stretch it should be welcome.

Companies and society at large should see the need – rather than the mere benefits – of including people with disabilities in their businesses
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