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Chee Yuen Many people are critical of the government’s poverty relief policies these days.儲存倉 Indeed, as Hong Kong becomes richer its poverty problem is getting worse and the government is mostly to blame, but people who care and society as a whole should examine whether their compassion for the poor is extended the correct way. A recent TV news report featuring an interview with a needy household caused heated debates among members of the public over how poverty relief should be conducted. The woman interviewed by the TV news crew complained she is so financially strapped she cannot afford beef for her son. Stories like this usually won sympathy for the interviewed in the past, but this time it got her in hot water instead. Some observant viewers noticed a few expensive toys in her home and she wore makeup as well as permed hair, which costs a lot these days. Many Web users joined the debate over this particular interview and are passionately divided. Some accused her of pretending to be poor to gain sympathy while others insisted poor people have the right to look good and own a few valuables. Still others expressed disgust toward the TV news channel for sensationalizing the topic. Whether the woman and her family are really poor and deserve our sympathy aside, the most important part of the story is that it r迷你倉價錢ises a question: “What kind of help should we provide for the needy?” It is true that we have seen quite a few similarly sensationalized stories in recent years. We were told that poor people cannot afford to travel outside Hong Kong, dine in restaurants or even buy hamburgers complete with fries; and children of some needy families cannot afford to join study tours or have musical instruments to play as an extracurricular activity. That’s really sad! So, some concern groups have organized rallies to demand help for the needy from society as well as the government, with varying degrees of success. However, the question remains whether tokens of sympathy in the form of paid tours and meals can help the needy shake-off poverty. And the answer is a sad “No.” What good does one get from eating burgers and fries anyway? If we truly care about families in need we should help them find ways to earn their own living instead of surviving on welfare and pity. The author is a current affairs commentator. This is an excerpted translation of his article published in Hong Kong Commercial Daily on Sept 3. The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Readers’ comments are welcome. Please send your e-mail to opinion@chinadailyhk.com. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters.迷你倉