9 in 10 Hong Kong primary school children on welfare are not having basic needs met, says Society for Community Organisation ahead of World Children’s Day
- Families are receiving just HK$3,000 a month on average and many cannot adequately feed their children or afford enough winter clothes, study finds
Nine out of every 10 Hong Kong primary school children whose families receive welfare are not having their basic needs met, according to a survey by a church-backed NGO.
The Society for Community Organisation polled 457 youngsters whose households were on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) between July last year and September this year. The group found 89.5 per cent lacked adequate food, funds or household facilities.
Some 76 per cent were unable to take part in after-school tutorials required by their schools. The same proportion did not have sufficient school uniforms, and 58 per cent said they were short of winter clothing.
“CSSA does not serve as a safety net. We found deprivation among the children of CSSA recipients to be high,” community organiser Sze Lai-shan said.
The NGO urged the government to increase CSSA subsidies for working families and Hongkongers with children.
“We see families receiving an average of HK$3,000 a month but they are still deprived,” Sze said. “They don’t have enough money to pay for their basic needs, so need to cut back on meals and clothes to get by.”
