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Hong Kong protests reveal a government failing to protect its citizens’ economic and social well-being
- The Hong Kong government has been more focused on global rankings and pleasing big companies than supporting its citizens. And in one international ranking – happiness – the city has been lagging, and this helps to explain protesters’ anger
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Why you can trust SCMP
What must the Hong Kong government do to resolve the social and economic deadlock? It’s not clear that anyone has the answer, but it has been evident so far that poor policymaking has provided no answers for the economic inequalities and social insecurity in society.
Human insecurity exists when government policy fails to address local socio-economic needs, and this is the situation Hong Kong finds itself in. Its huge income disparity is nothing new, and lately the people of Hong Kong have shown they are deprived of human well-being and happiness, according to the World Happiness Report.
As the government fails to address economic equality and social security for its people, Hong Kong’s global economic position is weakened.
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In response to the economic challenges caused by the anti-government protests, the government has announced relief measures for the economically deprived. These ad hoc measures barely scratch the surface for those living with economic insecurity.
Over the years, the government has done little to aid those who suffer most from income inequality. When formulating economic and tax policies, officials have focused mainly on helping large enterprises thrive in the global market.
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