The oversupply of workers and the imbalance power between employers and employees and the lack of minimum wage system before 2011 and collective bargaining induce continuous wage cut of the unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Lack of Comprehensive Old Age protection make many elderly have to live under poverty line.
Income inequality: Hong Kong has a significant wealth gap, with a small portion of the population holding a majority of the wealth. This disparity in income distribution widens the poverty gap and limits opportunities for upward mobility.
In March 2022, Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, said that after 2047, the "one country, two systems" could be extended by another 50 years, until 2097. In July 2022, Leung Chun-ying, former chief executive, said that he expected the system to be extended past 2047.
Some unemployed residents report struggling to afford even public transportation to reach the few jobs they have left. While public housing offers some relief, rent still consumes up to 20% of residents' monthly income, leaving many unable to afford shelter and proper nutrition.
Economic inequality and poverty: Economic inequality in Hong Kong is a significant contributing factor to homelessness. The city's high living costs and income disparities make it difficult for individuals with low wages or unstable employment to afford housing and meet basic needs.
How Hong Kong became one of the world’s most unequal cities
Is living in Hong Kong stressful?
There are certain cultural considerations which add to the stress of living here. There are high family expectations placed on young people from Hong Kong, like the expectation to earn a good salary and to take care of your parents. The working hours in Hong Kong are long.
On 1 July 1997, Britain officially transferred authority over Hong Kong to China, ending over 150 years of British rule. This is known in the English-speaking world as the 'handover'. Today, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China.
The United States is the world's richest country by a wide margin. It's a global hub for finance, tech, energy, and entertainment. From Silicon Valley to Wall Street, American firms shape worldwide trends. The country benefits from vast natural resources, advanced infrastructure, and a culture of innovation.
In the 2024 Expat City Ranking, Hong Kong gains 12 spots from its position in 2023 to rank 22nd out of 53 cities — continuing to improve since 2022 when it was in the bottom 10 (46th). Expats are also happier with their lives abroad, going from dead last in 2022 (50th) to 12th in 2024.
The handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the People's Republic of China occurred at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule, dating back to the cession of Hong Kong Island in 1841 during the First Opium War.
"Cantonese" as used to refer to the language native to the city of Canton, which is the traditional English name of Guangzhou, was popularized by An English and Cantonese Pocket Dictionary (1859), a bestseller by the missionary John Chalmers.
1.2 Social Issues and Social Problems in Hong Kong Major social problems and policy debates in Hong Kong, e.g. aging, gender inequality, poverty and social security, working poor and wage policy, work and employment, social mobility and social stratification, family violence, crime and punishment, immigration and ...
On 18 February 2025, the Hong Kong government announced that the Chief Executive in Council had approved the recommendation of the Minimum Wage Commission to raise the statutory minimum wage (“SMW”) from HK$40 per hour to HK$42.1 per hour.
Which country has the greatest wealth inequality? The country with the highest wealth inequality based on the income share of the richest 1% is the Maldives. The wealthiest 1% in the Maldives receive 35.61% of the country's entire income.
The government set the poverty line at 50 per cent of the median household income by household size in 2013, so in 2020 the household poverty lines for one-person and two-person households are HK$4,400 and HK$9,500 respectively.
Estonia, a small European country located near the Baltic Sea, is ranked as the cleanest country in the world. It scored 75.7 in the EPI 2024 report. It ranks highest due to its greenery, freshwater sources, clean air and water. The second country on the list is Luxembourg; it scores 75.1 in the EPI 2024 report.
By overall GDP, the United States remains the largest economy, followed by China, while other nations like Luxembourg, Ireland, and Singapore lead in GDP per capita thanks to smaller populations. Qatar and financial hubs like Switzerland also rank among the wealthiest due to being rich in resources like oil.
The top 1 percent own 43 percent of all global financial assets. Just two corporations control 40 percent of the global seed market. The “big three” US-based asset managers —BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard— hold $20 trillion in assets, close to one-fifth of all investable assets in the world.
With the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, which stated that the economic and social systems in Hong Kong would remain relatively unchanged for 50 years, the British government agreed to transfer the entire territory to China upon the expiration of the New Territories lease in 1997 – with Hong Kong ...
There is resentment in Hong Kong towards the mainland over convergence and assimilation, as well as the increasing interference from the government of China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Hong Kong's internal affairs.
Pronunciation. As a result of the colonial legacy, the pronunciation of Hong Kong English was assumed to be originally based on British English. However, nowadays, there are new features of pronunciation derived from American English, and the influence of American English has emerged.
What salary is needed to live comfortably in Hong Kong?
A monthly salary of HKD 20,000–30,000 (USD 2,550–3,830) can support a comfortable lifestyle in Hong Kong. While HKD 50,000 (USD 6,380) is considered a high income, it's well above the city's average salary of HKD 20,000 (USD 2,550), offering greater financial flexibility.
Environment: easy living. Hong Kong has an environment designed to help people live healthier lives and make healthier choices. Hong Kong is a highly urbanized city with well-designed neighbourhoods, plenty of access to nature, walking trails, and outdoor activities to maintain activity levels.
Depression is an increasingly common mood disorder in modern society. Previous studies show that there are over 300 thousand depressive patients in Hong Kong.
