Middle class shouldn't begrudge doing good things for the poor

The immaturity of some of our politicians shows no sign of abating, as is evident from their responses to the policy address delivered last week by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.

In his first address a year ago, Leung concentrated on the housing situation, which, on any sensible analysis, is the most serious problem facing Hong Kong. We have some of the highest prices on the planet, alongside some appalling living conditions that would shame a third world country.

This time, he gave an update on the various plans to address the issue and the prognosis is reasonable: it will take time because, after a decade of neglect, it was bound to. But after a massive behind-the-scenes planning effort, the pieces are in place, the bulk of the land has been found and we are on our way to a solution.

The main thrust of the policy address could therefore focus on our next most serious problem: the shocking findings on poverty revealed a few months ago by the Commission on Poverty, a body resurrected by Leung in one of the earliest decisions of his term, after being disbanded by the previous regime.

We have the first official poverty line in Hong Kong's history, and a whole raft of poverty alleviation measures to bring help to those most in need. These will provide practical assistance and support, in particular to the working poor. This is not a welfare state; it is a helping hand reaching down to pull up those trying to help themselves.

Other sections of the address outline good pragmatic measures in elderly care, education, the environment and economic development.

What has been the response of our politicians to this workmanlike manifesto? "There's nothing for the middle class," says chairman of the self-styled Voice of the Middle Class Alvin Lee Chi-wing. There was immediate support for this view from the Business and Professionals Alliance, who also shed a tear for small and medium-sized enterprises. Other politicos have since joined the chorus.