During the festival month, when many Hong Kongers are focused on “hungry ghosts,” a new survey has brought to light an alarming problem of food shortages that plagues far too many people in the city. Efforts to address this problem must be intensified, because it persists despite the city having ample resources, and GDP per capita is among the highest in the world despite economic problems.
According to a survey by local non-governmental organization Food Grace, over 40 percent of underprivileged Hong Kong residents have had to go hungry to save money, and 77 percent admitted that price is more important than nutritional value when shopping.
The food recycling group found that nearly half of respondents do not get enough nutrients in their daily diet and most said they are struggling with high food prices. A worrying 44 percent of respondents were starving to save money and nearly 33 percent had reduced the number of meals they ate. Angela Lo Kok-shan, Food Grace project manager, said the findings “showed the severity of food worries in families.” The results, released on August 13, are based on a survey of 509 residents in July. It included those living on welfare, low-income households and people with disabilities in Kwai Tsing and Sham Shui Po districts.
Authorities should heed the NGOs’ advice and increase food assistance to those in need, improve supplies and keep prices stable. More than 46 percent of respondents appealed to the government to help them access nutritious staple foods. The survey should also add urgency to other government priorities. Substandard housing conditions can lead to increased hunger, as lack of cooking facilities in such spaces can limit food variety and nutrient intake.
It also encouraged authorities to continue to fight food waste, with the NGO calling for more self-help groups to recycle meals in a city where thousands of tonnes of food pile up in landfills every day – much of it unused restaurant stock.
Food Grace called on the government to provide more food assistance and nutritional counseling to low-income citizens. Authorities should also review the suitability of food provided by subsidized food banks.
It is good that the Social Welfare Department is engaging non-governmental organizations to provide short-term food assistance to help needy individuals and families.
Former Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Jacques Diouf once described hunger as a matter of justice, not charity. The latest survey sheds light on a problem that may have been invisible or ignored by many in the city. It’s time for more than just handouts. Action is needed to create systemic change.
