This page details poverty-related research carried out in the last three decades. Key research publications have been divided into the following groups/areas. Some freely available publications can be downloaded in PDF directly from the site.
The first official poverty line (PL) is defined as 50% of the median monthly household income (MMHI) of all domestic households in Hong Kong, prior to policy intervention, such as tax and social benefits transfers. The PL is based upon the concept of relative poverty, and the poverty thresholds will be reviewed annually with reference to the MMHI movement.
For 2012, the PL was HK$3,600 for singleton, HK$7,700 for a 2-person household, HK $11,500 for a 3-person household, HK$14,300, HK $14,800 and HK$15,800 for a 4– , 5– and 6-person and above respectively (Figure 1). Before policy intervention, 1.31 million of population (19.6%) was living in poverty. The poor population was dropped to 1.02 million (15.2%) after recurrent cash intervention.
The relevant documents issued by the Commission on Poverty (CoP) can be downloaded via www.povertyrelief.gov.hk, including:
- Hong Kong’s First Official Poverty Line – Purpose and Value
- Setting of the Poverty Line and Analysis of the Poverty Situation
- Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2012
Figure 1: The poverty line by household size (2009−2012)
Source: The Commission of Poverty (2013). Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2012. Hong Kong: Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Figure 2.1.