Residents who slip through the cracks have little hope in new budget
A rent subsidy is at the top of mother-of-two Yeung San-hung's budget wish list. "HK$1,000 - a thousand would make a huge difference for us," said the 36-year-old. It would mean more money to improve her children's welfare, she said.
A rent subsidy is at the top of mother-of-two Yeung San-hung's budget wish list.
"HK$1,000 - a thousand would make a huge difference for us," said the 36-year-old. It would mean more money to improve her children's welfare, she said.
HK$1,000 - a thousand would make a huge difference for us. It would mean more money to improve her children's welfare
Families like Yeung's have been coined the "n-nothings" for having zero help from the government despite the basketful of poverty alleviation measures that have been introduced over the past two years. Their situation has only grown worse due to rising rents and inflation.
The Yeungs - who have been in line for public housing for six years - rent a 100 sq ft subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po, which costs HK$4,000 a month including utilities. Her husband, who is a full-time painter and decorator, earns around HK$10,000 a month.
They don't benefit from the electricity subsidy of up to HK$1,800 per household handed out in the last budget, as the families living in the subdivided flat share an account under their landlord's name.
After Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's disappointing policy address, Yeung said her hopes for this budget were not high.