by Lau Yin Ling. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-88). / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.i / LIST OF TABLES --- p.ii / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.iv / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- CONCEPT OF ABSOLUTE POVERTY --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- CONCEPT OF RELATIVE POVERTY --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3 --- CONCEPT OF SUBJECTIVE POVERTY --- p.16 / Chapter 2.4 --- STUDIES OF POVERTY IN HONG KONG --- p.18 / Chapter III. --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1 --- CONCEPTUAL ISSUES --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2 --- THE MODEL --- p.23 / Chapter IV. --- THE DATA --- p.32 / Chapter 4.1 --- SAMPLING METHODS --- p.32 / Chapter 4.2 --- GENERAL EXPENDITURE PATTERNS FROM THE 1989/90HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY --- p.35 / Chapter V. --- THE EXTENT OF POVERTY IN HONG KONG --- p.47 / Chapter 5.1 --- SPECIFICATION OF THE MODEL --- p.47 / Chapter 5.2 --- EMPIRICAL RESULTS --- p.52 / Chapter VI. --- THE ABSOLUTE POVERTY PROFILE IN HONG KONG --- p.60 / Chapter 6.1 --- HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND POVERTY --- p.61 / Chapter 6.2 --- HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS AND POVERTY --- p.62 / Chapter 6.3 --- TYPE OF HOUSING AND POVERTY --- p.64 / Chapter VII. --- CONCLUDING REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.72 / APPENDIX --- p.75 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.82

Poverty is not solely a prominent issue in developing countries but also in economically advanced cities. Viewing in the context of Hong Kong, the high degree of income disparity reflected by Overall Gini Coefficient Index has revealed the poverty situation behind the image of prosperity. Vulnerable groups are untouched by the development process, and living under substandard conditions especially considering the multidisciplinary characteristics of poverty. In order to address the issues of urban poverty, the Chief Executive has acclaimed in the Policy Address 2014 the necessity of poverty alleviation, care for the elderly and support for the disadvantaged. Yet, community development on poverty alleviation cannot depend on the financial and resource assistance from the Government only. The inbuilt resources, skills and abilities of a community also need to be taken into account. This study has sought to identify a method that can better understand and evaluate community assets towards poverty reduction for vulnerable groups. Thus, after the literature review, it has been found that SLAs could be introduced to understand the subsistent circumstances and priorities of the poor –assets they actually own to make a living and problems that they face in the utilization of assets. Sham Shui Po would be invoked as a case study to conduct SLA due to the rather severe poverty situation, and the multifarious characteristics in the community. The overall poverty situation in Sham Shui Po has continued to deteriorate due to the increasing poverty rate and widening poverty gap. Three groups have been targeted as priority poverty groups, namely, elderly, new-arrivals and unemployment. The vulnerability context of these impoverished groups in the large landscape of Sham Shui Po has then been analyzed as the trends of increasing urban population especially aging groups, aggravated economic pressures on poverty groups and shocks of disempowerment in economic, social and political aspects. Then based on the mapping of existing human, financial, physical, natural and social capital within the area, a livelihood asset pentagon has been figured out to explain the strengths and vulnerabilities on the mobilization of these five types of capital. Afterwards, the effectsof livelihood strategiesand policieson the livelihood assets pentagons would be analyzed. Livelihood strategies initiated by poor residents themselves are always considered as negative practices since they are all based on the sacrifice of the accessibility of other kinds of assets. Policies considered in this study include social welfare systems which aim to provide financial and resource assistance, and urban renewal in pursue to speed up the integral development of old urban areas. However, it is argued that the implementation of social welfare systems is not satisfactory enough to bring poverty groups back to a prosperous life, while the process of urban renewal has actually disrupted the social network of poor groups. Based on the analysis above, policy recommendation would be proposed to alleviate the adverse impacts and intensify the favorable impacts of community assets, livelihood strategies and policies on the livelihoods of poverty groups. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Journalism and Media Studies Centre / Master / Master of Journalism

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Poverty management has been institutionalized in affluent societies. Individuals are less vulnerable to starvation, but it does not mean they are exempt from plight. The issue of respect and recognition is high on the agenda. Poverty amidst plenty arouses suspicion and incites hostility. Civil inequality makes a place inhospitable. In this regard, I wish to revitalize the poverty debate by working on two key concepts: craftsmanship and citizenship. We can see craftsman and citizen in local Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) mothers, in particular in the career and life history of them. Craftsmanship describes a fundamental impulse in humanity: the desire to do a job well for its own sake. A craftsman aims to get better rather than get by or get ahead. Life adds up when practiced as a craft. Citizenship is concerned about human association: how should we live together? Of particular note is the virtue of citizens. To make sense of their orientation to act, I approach citizenship as lived practice. These two sentiments are aptly tracked down from life history analysis, studying individuals as a process of social becoming. The key is to identify social gateways, in the forms of significant events and encounters, leading to social innovation. My investigation witnesses the making of a career of respect. For CSSA mothers, the starting point is located in a life crisis. All felicity wish is misfired; their lives sink into victimization. To lift them out of this state, it requires an awakening. The small voice of a child may make a magic. This hints at the situational imperatives of parenthood, which is often the key to revive a soul. The welfare of their children cries out for a halt in self-pity. Mothers respond by making a baby step, venturing into unfamiliar territories and trying out new things. Chances are that they will be in touch with expert systems against the backdrop of the institutionalization of poverty management. Government bureaucracies and NGOs from civil society especially come to their aid. Apart from professionals, ordinary folk, like a community of women, can be sociable experts. Together, they boost reflexivity, resourcefulness, and resilience. Greater transformation takes place in an enabling social space. Of exceptional significance is the transcendence from the smaller “I” in isolation to the bigger “we” whose future belongs to a common project. Three types of crafted citizens are identified. The metaphors of kangaroos, beavers, and watchdogs are used to give credit to their contributions to parenting, community building, and policy campaign respectively. In the end, three lessons are drawn. The first campaigns for social space at the meso level that is proven to contribute a great deal to the career of respect. The second addresses the issue of care by advocating a universal caregiver model. The third puts forward a new welfare contract to cope with public legitimacy about CSSA. These lessons concern us all if what matters to us are human flourishing, gender equity, and solidarity. / published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy