DO NOT SPEAK THE TRUTH IN HONG KONG

Many Schemes, no Flat.

By: Dr.Asmat Hayat ALVI.

It's a desire of every family to have a home; it's just natural.

In HK middle class and lower income class (working class) can never fulfill their desire to have a home; as the smallest flat in HK is out of reach of every working class family because inflation is hitting hard every HK resident; especially working class; eroding their life savings.

Residential flats in HK are more expensive than in any other metropolis in the world because of HK administration's unrealistic approach towards housing problem faced by working class.

HK administration pretends sympathetic to working class; in fact it's not. HK administration had introduced many schemes to own a flat for working class in past but all schemes proved to be useless, as those schemes are not drafted according to the needs of working class. Most of HK working class families live in rented flats. These flats are usually very small. People call these small sized flats "pigeon cages." Usually half monthly family income goes into rent of these small sized flats. Only a friction of working class of HK live in flats provided by Housing Department of HK on subsidized rent; build for lower income families.

HK workers work longer than European workers but get half and most of time less than half salaries as compared to European and American workers. Most couples have to work more than eight hours a day even on Sundays and public holidays, to meet their basic daily needs; doing this they have to neglect their children.

In fact; HK working class faces numerous problems; cannot be mentioned in few pages.  

HK is run by Government officials instead of politicians.

Income gap between Government officials and Workers in HK is very wide and getting wider day by day. Hong Kong Government officials don't realize the fact that HK working class should be helped. Their approach towards working class of HK is unrealistic; sometimes very harsh.   

HK officials are paid more than their counterparts are paid in US and Europe; some times more and sometimes double. Most Government officials are raised, educated and trained outside of HK. They lack local experience and have least idea of how common people of HK live their lives. Most HK officials are provided those facilities, which are considered luxury by commoners; even not provided in many developed countries to high ranked government servants. HK officials live like elite class and never face those hardships; faced by working class in everyday life. HK officials think luxury, they emphasize to build luxury flats, cultural districts and theme parks on public land. In contrast HK working class think Home Sweet Home, they demand flats at affordable price; neither as big as in America nor as small as build now-a-day in HK by Property Developers.

To solve this problem, I have one suggestion only. All government officials should be shifted into pigeon cages and each official's monthly salary should be equal to a Hong Kong worker's monthly salary. Doing this, I strongly hope; within a half month period without any external pressure, these government officials will draft a realistic, most suitable, feasible and comprehensive scheme for working class of HK and housing problem in HK will be completely solved within next ten years.    

Mar 14 2011.