LettersBeyond the wealth gap: Hong Kong must first secure basic living standards
Readers discuss why addressing wealth disparities may be missing the point, Hong Kong’s harbourfront ambitions, and how Singapore’s education system caters to late bloomers
This perspective, known philosophically as “sufficientarianism”, argues that social welfare should be judged by the “floor” rather than the “ceiling”. After a certain point, wealth becomes an abstract number with diminishing marginal utility; an ultra-rich individual simply cannot exponentially consume more basic goods. Probably in corrupt societies, they can wield more power and influence. Hong Kong has the Independent Commission Against Corruption to deal with that.
Therefore, if a government ensures its residents can afford safe and high-quality food, shelter, healthcare and education, a massive gap between the average citizen and a billionaire does not inherently equate to societal failure.
Relative to other global jurisdictions, Hong Kong remains a largely fair and rule-bound society. The government has historically played a massive role in securing this baseline – most notably providing subsidised public housing to nearly half the city’s population, institutions like the Hospital Authority, subsidised transport for the needy and maintaining a world-class public infrastructure.
From this viewpoint, as long as absolute living standards are dignified, peaceful and secure, extreme relative wealth disparities are acceptable.