How Does Economic Stability Impact Food Shortages in Hong Kong?

By Chloe Wong

The Food Shortage Crisis

The food shortage crisis among people living in poverty is worsening in Hong Kong. More than 1.6 million people in Hong Kong are experiencing poverty, and approximately 70,000 people among them do not have access to fresh meals daily, some aren’t even able to meet their basic nutritional needs. In this article, I will explore how economic stability impacts food shortages in Hong Kong.

A possible factor would be the expensive housing rent in Hong Kong. In 2018, about half of the housing rent in Hong Kong cost around 70 per cent of the median household income The coronavirus has affected the unemployment rate, increasing it to 5.83% in late 2020. Moreover, Hong Kong has a low minimum wage of HK$37.5 A study done by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service has shown that around 71,000 of those who are in poverty would have to survive with less than HK$15 per meal, whilst a normal Hong Kong meal would cost around HK $60. This further proves that those who are under poverty wouldn’t even be able to afford a proper meal and would have to find less nutritious alternatives such as instant noodles or bread on a daily basis.

So what actually is economic stability?

Economic stability essentially means that an economy experiences constant growth and low fluctuations (Jayadi, n. d.) and that people are able to afford living essentials, in order to have a higher living standard. This is important as it allows people to have access to the essentials for living to have a quality life. An example of economic instability could be seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, when food prices were rapidly increasing and citizens were all panic buying, leaving the city with fewer food supplies than the demand for food, resulting in food insecurity. It was a rough time for many Hong Kong households, especially those where family members lost their jobs and were not able to afford overpriced foods.

In contrast, when the economy is stable and the unemployment rate is lowered, businesses' confidence will be boosted and more entrepreneurs will be encouraged to step foot into the food industry. It was shown that the catering business grew by an estimated 20 per cent after the government launched their consumption vouchers scheme that aimed to help relieve the economic pressure for families that are facing financial challenges. Statistics from the Hong Kong government have also shown that the total number of restaurant licences registered with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has even increased from 16,071 in 2020 - before the consumption vouchers scheme to 16,165 in 2021 after the scheme was introduced. This would allow more food products to be produced to feed the citizens of HK and help alleviate the problem of food shortage in Hong Kong.

To conclude, economic stability increases the supply of food and would alleviate the problem of food shortages in Hong Kong. Allowing more of those who are living under the poverty line to gain access to food and obtain the basic nutritional needs, will help to end malnutrition in Hong Kong and lead to healthier lives. This also benefits the population by having positive impacts back to the economy as well as social development. Through better provision and sharing of food, let us all support the creation of a better future for Hong Kong!