hkskyline
March 13th, 2006, 06:59 AM
Union makes cash plea for commuters
Mimi Lau
Hong Kong Standard
Monday, March 13, 2006
A unionist lawmaker has called on the government to provide a monthly HK$500 subsidy to low-income earners living in remote districts such as Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun.
Citing new research, Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions general secretary Lee Cheuk-yan said Sunday 90 percent of Tin Shui Wai residents work outside the district and more than half of them spend a tenth of their income on transport.
Lee said residents in distant areas like Tin Shui Wai are vulnerable to employers due to high transport costs and few jobs on offer.
It was the second time in five days that Financial Secretary Henry Tang - who is also chairman of the government's Commission on Poverty - came under fire for not providing transport subsidies to low-income earners living in distant areas.
The HKCTU polled 814 Tin Shui Wai residents and found only 75 percent had jobs. The implied unemployment rate of 25 percent far exceeds the government's official rate for Hong Kong of 5.3 percent.
Of those in work, 90 percent, or 550 people, work outside the area. Nearly 35 percent earn less than HK$6,000 a month and about 56 percent spend a tenth of their income on transport.
High transport costs are exacerbating high unemployment, Lee said. Wages are suppressed because local residents are competing for too few jobs. But many are reluctant to seek jobs because they cannot afford to commute - 30 percent of the jobless calculate that travel expenses offset the effort of looking for work. Another 28 percent said they simply cannot find work.
Linda Chan, who is in her 30s with a Form 6 education, can earn only HK$4,000 a month as a full-time sales clerk working a six-day week.
"Employers offer such little salary knowing residents here don't have many choices," Lee said.
A single journey rail fare from Tin Shui Wai to Kowloon costs from HK$21.50 to HK$24.50. A one-way trip to Hong Kong Island is HK$30.
A round trip costs between HK$50 and HK$60 a day - or HK$1,200 to HK$1,440 a month. A bus to Kowloon costs HK$16.50 a trip, while it is more than HK$20 to Hong Kong Island.
Tang announced last Wednesday that transport subsidies of HK$2.7 million will be allotted in April in the form of interest-free loans or allowances to at least 1,500 people aged 30 or above looking for work. However, the subsidy is available only to nonsocial security recipients who are graduates from Employees Retraining Board scheme programs who live in North, Yuen Long and Island districts.
The government estimates no more than 6,700 will benefit from the move.
However, the population of Tin Shui Wai is 280,000 and rising.
"Tang should really be ashamed of himself," Lee said. "Even a community organization can apply for funding up to HK$100 million."
Tin Shui Wai, one of Hong Kong's more recent new towns, has gained notoriety for high rates of poverty, domestic violence and child abuse.
Citing a Legislative Council paper, Lee said there are 54,800 low-income earners living in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, North and Islands district.
He proposes the government provide the monthly HK$500 subsidy to low-income earners, which is about HK$279 million per year of expenditure. If not, Lee said he will not endorse Tang's budget at the end of this month.
Mimi Lau
Hong Kong Standard
Monday, March 13, 2006
A unionist lawmaker has called on the government to provide a monthly HK$500 subsidy to low-income earners living in remote districts such as Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun.
Citing new research, Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions general secretary Lee Cheuk-yan said Sunday 90 percent of Tin Shui Wai residents work outside the district and more than half of them spend a tenth of their income on transport.
Lee said residents in distant areas like Tin Shui Wai are vulnerable to employers due to high transport costs and few jobs on offer.
It was the second time in five days that Financial Secretary Henry Tang - who is also chairman of the government's Commission on Poverty - came under fire for not providing transport subsidies to low-income earners living in distant areas.
The HKCTU polled 814 Tin Shui Wai residents and found only 75 percent had jobs. The implied unemployment rate of 25 percent far exceeds the government's official rate for Hong Kong of 5.3 percent.
Of those in work, 90 percent, or 550 people, work outside the area. Nearly 35 percent earn less than HK$6,000 a month and about 56 percent spend a tenth of their income on transport.
High transport costs are exacerbating high unemployment, Lee said. Wages are suppressed because local residents are competing for too few jobs. But many are reluctant to seek jobs because they cannot afford to commute - 30 percent of the jobless calculate that travel expenses offset the effort of looking for work. Another 28 percent said they simply cannot find work.
Linda Chan, who is in her 30s with a Form 6 education, can earn only HK$4,000 a month as a full-time sales clerk working a six-day week.
"Employers offer such little salary knowing residents here don't have many choices," Lee said.
A single journey rail fare from Tin Shui Wai to Kowloon costs from HK$21.50 to HK$24.50. A one-way trip to Hong Kong Island is HK$30.
A round trip costs between HK$50 and HK$60 a day - or HK$1,200 to HK$1,440 a month. A bus to Kowloon costs HK$16.50 a trip, while it is more than HK$20 to Hong Kong Island.
Tang announced last Wednesday that transport subsidies of HK$2.7 million will be allotted in April in the form of interest-free loans or allowances to at least 1,500 people aged 30 or above looking for work. However, the subsidy is available only to nonsocial security recipients who are graduates from Employees Retraining Board scheme programs who live in North, Yuen Long and Island districts.
The government estimates no more than 6,700 will benefit from the move.
However, the population of Tin Shui Wai is 280,000 and rising.
"Tang should really be ashamed of himself," Lee said. "Even a community organization can apply for funding up to HK$100 million."
Tin Shui Wai, one of Hong Kong's more recent new towns, has gained notoriety for high rates of poverty, domestic violence and child abuse.
Citing a Legislative Council paper, Lee said there are 54,800 low-income earners living in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, North and Islands district.
He proposes the government provide the monthly HK$500 subsidy to low-income earners, which is about HK$279 million per year of expenditure. If not, Lee said he will not endorse Tang's budget at the end of this month.