http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=193381&story_id=50007498&d_str=20180305&sid=11
In a recent budget request, the current Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, requested an increase in funding for the Comprehensive Social Security System (CSSA). Under this, beneficiaries would receive an additional two months of support. The current Chief of Labor, Law Chi-Kwang, reminds people that the majority of CSSA funds go to the elderly and disabled, only 4% of which are able bodied enough to work. In light of critics calling that there would be an increase of welfare abuse, he points out that violations have gone down in the last ten years. Law said “Shouldn’t we share the fruits of success with people who cannot support themselves financially, given this year’s surplus?” In Hong Kong there is a term that describes those who are excluded from Hong Kong’s $80 billion dollars a year in social aid, called an N-Nothing. A task force has been created to help reduce the number of N-Nothings, often those who still are in great need despite not qualifying for aid.
Evidence from the article is all from government quotes and sources, likely reliable. The author helps try to change the views of those who are on government benefits as lazy and uses the current government budget increase and official statements as tools of persuasion. It is worth noting that the actual rates of welfare abuse are not precisely stated.
Yeung, Raymond. “How many Hongkongers are really living in poverty?” South China Morning Post, 22 May 2017, www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2095117/how-many-hongkongers-are-really-living-poverty.