Hong Kong must help the needy, but can’t become a welfare state: capitalism is about give and take

Handouts must be about providing the basics to the needy, not catering to a long list of demands. Individuals have to lift themselves up the social ladder

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Concerned citizens march to the office of the Hong Kong chief executive in Admiralty to protest against the raising of the age threshold for elderly welfare payments, on January 27. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 11:03am, 4 Feb 2019Updated: 11:03am, 4 Feb 2019

With reference to Henry Wong’s letter, “Too much help to Hong Kong’s poor is no help at all: it’s time to end the blame game” (January 26), while my views mostly align with Mr Wong’s, I have a slightly different take on poverty and the government’s role in aiding the poor.

In my opinion, the government is responsible for providing the basics to ensure that everyone’s survival is independent from the uncertainties of capitalism – such as health care and transport subsidies, and a capped amount of money for the essentials – while simultaneously ensuring equal opportunities, taking race, gender, sexual orientation, and so forth out of the equation.

However, in terms of being responsible to the general public, no governing power should provide equal outcomes, that is, a system whereby everyone receives the same reward despite the difference in contribution – also known as communism. To be blunt, no one deserves anything.

In a functioning society, which would not involve the antics in the Legislative Council we are witnessing, it is up to individuals to lift themselves up the social ladder. The more value you bring to society, the more you receive in return. Applying the same rule of thumb, the less you provide the society with, the less the society cares about you. This is harsh, but is also what has structured almost every capitalistic society in the world.

An elderly man unloads vegetables in Shek Kip Mei. Photo: Sam Tsang

Welfare is provided to those in need because they deserve the bare necessities and the opportunities to create a better future for themselves, not because they deserve to not work and get paid. How is it fair for taxpayers to surrender hard-earned money to those who want to live off welfare for the rest of their lives?

Hong Kong must help the needy, but can’t become a welfare state: capitalism is about give and take

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Handouts must be about providing the basics to the needy, not catering to a long list of demands. Individuals have to lift themselves up the social ladder

Handouts must be about providing the basics to the needy, not catering to a long list of demands. Individuals have to lift themselves up the social ladder