Poverty and Food Assistance in Hong Kong

Food assistance in Hong Kong has been growing rapidly in recent years. Though distribution of food to the needy ones was commonly found in the 1950s/1960s, the development of the social security system since 1970s had replaced such inkind assistance. This article examines the background leading to emerging (or “re-emerging”) of food assistance in recent years in Hong Kong – the poverty problem and the food surplus. It also analyses the development of the service – in what direction it grows etc. Finally, the article will discuss what are the challenges facing this service in the years ahead.