Hong Kong’s economy may be booming, but that does not mean its residents are happier or better off
New study from the Council of Social Service highlights housing woes and weak family ties in lowering city’s Social Development Index score
Hong Kong’s sparkling economic numbers mask the serious social problems plaguing its residents, a new study has found.
With healthy reserves and plenty of resources the city is flourishing, but its poorest residents are earning less, child mortality rates and child abuse are on the rise, with continued housing woes also contributing to stagnating social development.
This year, the Council of Social Service gave the city a score of 205 in its Social Development Index 2018, down from 206 two years ago. Since 2000, the index compiled biennially by the umbrella group of NGOs, has always been on an upwards trajectory.
Anthony Wong Kin-wai, the council’s business director, described the score as a sign of “stagnation”, adding: “It indicates to us that there must be some kind of problem within Hong Kong.”
The index is calculated using a variety of government data, assessing 14 areas such as environmental quality, personal safety and health, and development outcomes of five groups in the population, such as the elderly and youth. It is always based on data from two years ago.