Housing, education top list of concerns for Hong Kong’s disadvantaged children, survey finds

The Children’s Rights Association’s latest report marks the 10th year straight in which housing has been identified as the biggest worry

Young ambassadors from the group also offer their assessments of the chief executive, with Carrie Lam performing poorly on poverty

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Children’s Rights Association ambassador Chen Shiqing, eight, peers over a table at a press conference announcing the release of the group’s annual report. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 6:52pm, 1 Jan 2021Updated: 11:40pm, 1 Jan 2021

Housing and education problems remained the most pressing issues faced by underprivileged children in Hong Kong over the past year, with the coronavirus pandemic piling on more challenges, according to a new survey by a rights group.

The Children’s Rights Association’s 16th annual report – released at a New Year’s Day press conference – polled some 3,000 children aged between six and 17, all from economically disadvantaged families.

The young participants were asked to rank a group of issues on a scale of one to 10, with housing for the 10th year in a row topping a list that also prominently featured worries ranging from access to health care to the government’s welfare policies.

Meanwhile, 20 child “ambassadors” from the group, which is run by the Society for Community Organisation (SoCO), concurrently handed out their annual grades for the handling of a variety of policy matters by the city’s leader.

Children’s Rights Association ambassadors meet the press on Friday. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor this year ranked significantly lower on the issue of child poverty, earning a score of eight out of a possible 100, compared to 21 in their last report.