Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
It is the eighteenth year I have been working at Oxfam Hong Kong. I have dedicated my passion here because Oxfam is courageous enough to speak the truth and advocate for a just world that narrows the poverty gap. Each year, we launch our Hong Kong Poverty Report based on the data from the Census and Statistics Department, providing in-depth analysis of the poverty situation in Hong Kong to develop policy suggestions for alleviating poverty. Looking back, this marks the tenth year since we launched the poverty report. Unfortunately, I must say that this year's report reveals the largest income gap and the highest poverty rate to date.
According to our latest report, it found that the poorest decile earned 81.9 times less than the richest decile in the first quarter of 2024. Over 1.39 million people now live under the poverty line. Of this total, about one million individuals are poor non-economic active population, having left the labor market for different reasons. Even more alarming is the rise in poverty among our elderly; more than 580,000 individuals aged 65 or above were living in poverty, including approximately 260,000 singleton and doubleton elderly households.
Government has just released the Policy Address and I am glad to see that the Policy Address aligns with our calls to activate the non-economic poor population, including the elderly and women, to re-engage with the community with different forms of support. However, the establishment of a poverty line has not been addressed.
Since 2022, the government has stopped publishing poverty reports and associated poverty lines, adopting Targeted Poverty Alleviation instead. This strategy supports single-parent households, elderly households, and those in sub-divided units. However, it's crucial to retain a poverty line to analyze and monitor Hong Kong's overall poverty situation. This data enhances the design of effective poverty reduction policies tailored to different target groups. We understand the concerns in society regarding the accuracy of the poverty line, noting that it may overestimate poverty situation, as some individuals may own properties and other assets. In July of this year, we finished another research report regarding the poverty line and we suggest analysing households that include elderly individuals independently and converting the assets of these families into monthly income through annuitisation methods. We are open to discussing the measurement of the poverty line and hope the government will reconsider it, as it serves as crucial evidence for designing targeted poverty strategies.
The Policy Address proposed the set-up of a Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy. Oxfam expects that the Committee will design its policy suggestions focusing on 'enabling' and 'active ageing' strategies to address the issues arising from population ageing.
We previously suggested the Government create a database for singleton and doubleton elderly households by integrating data from different departments. We’re pleased that the Policy Address mentioned creating an interdisciplinary database for caregivers of the elderly and disabled. We hope this database's scope expands to include singleton and doubleton elderly households and is shared with social welfare agencies. This would help match appropriate social welfare support to these families.
Above all, early intervention and preventive measures are crucial for reducing health risks among the elderly. I welcome the government's proposal in the Policy Address to develop primary healthcare solutions. We further suggest that the government utilise telemedicine and technologies to provide suitable medical care. It should also promote elder-friendly exercises such as dance and stretching, combining programmes with online platforms to enable home training. The government could consider expanding medical vouchers to include online/offline health courses on exercise, allowing elderly to manage their health independently.
For those young old who are still willing to join labor market, we need an elderly-friendly environment. Hong Kong's poor elderly labor participation is only 3.8%, far lower than Mainland China (25%) and Norway (22.2%). The significant discrepancy is largely due to the intensity of pull factors in policy. We advocate the government should encourage employers to hire elderly through simplified application procedures of the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged by directly providing subsidies based on the number of new elderly employees hired, as well as enhancing elderly’s willingness to work by lowering the threshold for elderly applicants in the Working Family Allowance Scheme. Even if they engage in part-time job, they could still enjoy full subsidies.
Population ageing doesn't have to lead to a social crisis. Long-term, by promoting Active Ageing and creating elder-friendly environments through technological and social innovations, society can address elderly needs. With government incentives to help re-engage motivated elderly in society and the job market, they can become valuable social capital. We all play a role in supporting each other. With vision and cooperation among public, private, and community stakeholders, Hong Kong can overcome challenges and build a more inclusive future.
This morning, I would like to dedicate a song “Imagine” by John Lennon to all of you and hope we will make a better world together.
Mental Health is a profoundly important global issue. Today, I want to shine a light on its critical impact in Hong Kong.
Recent local studies conducted by the Health Bureau from 2019 to 2023 have revealed that nearly 25% of over 6,000 youth have experienced various levels of mental distress and neurodiversity. The latest figures also showed a significant rise in suicidal rate among young individuals aged 10 to 29 since 2016. Alarmingly, the suicidal rate for female teenagers under 15-year-old reached an unprecedented level in 2023. Over aged 60 accounts for 40% of the overall suicide.
But I want you to know there is hope. Although we have faced the heartbreaking loss of some of our precious students since the start of this new academic year, it is important to remember that we can make a difference.
The risk factors contributing to this crisis are multifaceted and interrelated: the social isolation during the pandemic, global instability due to warfare and economic challenges. Natural disasters and global warming are also areas of deep concern for our youngsters, reinforcing their sense of hopelessness and helplessness.
However, international research over the decades had clearly shown that over 90% of those who died by suicide had underlying psychiatric disorders, two-thirds of which were related to anxiety and depression. Tragically, among the 30 students who passed away due to suicide in the first semester of 2023, only 30% had been receiving psychiatric services. This means that many were unfortunately not recognized by themselves, their families, friends or teachers and did not have the opportunity to receive appropriate and timely treatment.
But here’s the encouraging part: the vast majority of psychiatric disorders at any ages, if detected, if detected and intervened early, can lead to very good outcomes. Suicide is preventable.
Prevention strategies are vital and that’s where we all come in. Schools play a pivotal role in this effort. By raising awareness of the signs of stress among students and enhancing teachers’ and school social workers’ skills in risk detection, we can create a healthier school community and by extension a healthier wider community.
The government can also contribute by investing in preventive strategies within a Universal, Selective and Treatment framework, such as the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (Rest, Relaxation, Relationship, and Resilience) implemented by the Education Bureau as a universal prevention measure.
At the selective prevention level, further professional training using evidence-based approaches can be organized to empower schools as gatekeepers. By identifying students at risk, we enhance risk detection and enable early intervention.
At treatment level, we need to further enhance the accessibility of psychiatric services using a public-private partnership framework. Working collaboratively with community partners, including social welfare organizations and community psychiatrists, can make mental health services more accessible and available.
The Hong Kong Mental Wellness Association (HKMWA) has launched several programmes using treatment, selective and universal prevention framework to address the urgent mental health needs.
Firstly, at the treatment level, WeCare SOS Support Our Students programme was launched in December 2023 in collaboration with the Hong Kong Social Workers Association supported by various foundations, to address the escalating trend of students’ suicide. This initiative aims to facilitate early identification, appropriate and timely treatment of students showing signs of stress and suicidal risk. These students are cared for by community psychiatrists providing four sessions of free consultation and medication. Phase I has successfully run since December 2023 with over 200 students being identified and treated. Phase II supported by the Hong Kong Tuberculosis, Chest and Heart Diseases Association (HKTCHDA) will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2024, extending the age limit and increasing the number of free sessions, to address community needs identified in Phase I.
Secondly, at the selective prevention level, we provide professional training for school teaching and counselling staff, in collaboration with Hong Kong Heng Seng University and the Greater Bay Area Medical Professional Development Association, we will organize a free evidence-based training foundation course for teachers on October 29th 2024. The training aims to equip participants with essential skills for early risk detection and evidence-based intervention in handling students with mental health issues. Also, a scientific symposium on mental wellness will be held in collaboration with the Greater Bay Area Medical Professional Development Association and Hong Kong psychological professional bodies on October 18, 2024.
Thirdly, as for universal prevention level, we have been running a school wellness programme “De-stress Express (DSE)” since early 2023. This programme includes mental health talks and stress management workshops for high school students, teaching staff and students. The goal is to increase understanding of the importance of mental wellness and to equip participants with stress management skills for better physical and mental wellness. Up until now, over 36 schools have been covered with over 60,000 participants involved.
We will also collaborate with community partner, to conduct a free Mental Health First Aid course for students on November 2, 2024. The three-hour course aims to empower students to become mental wellness ambassadors who can detect their own signs of distress, and help their fellow classmates and friends, encouraging them to reach out to adults for help.
As we celebrate the World Mental Health Day on October 10, let’s remember that promoting mental well-being is a community effort. It involves parents, schools and mental health professionals, all working together.
Young people are our future. By raising awareness and equipping ourselves with self-help skills and the ability to help others, we can all face the challenges ahead and foster an inclusive, supportive environment for everyone in our community.
I’d like to dedicate a song by Carole King “You’ve got a friend”, because “it’s ok to be not okay”, and it is important to “always reach out when you’re troubled”. Just remember, “you’re not alone”. Let’s work together for a better mental health for all.