HongKongisamongtherichestcitiesintheworld.Yetoverthepast15years,livingconditionsfortheaveragefamilyhavedeteriorateddespitearobusteconomy,amplebudgetsurplusesandrecordlabourproductivity.Successivegovernmentshavebeenreluctanttoinvestinservicesfortheelderly,thedisabled,thelong-termsick,andthepoor,whileeducationhasbecomemoreelitist.Thepoliticalsystemhashelpedtoentrenchamistakenconsensusthatsocialspendingisathreattofinancialstabilityandeconomicprosperity.Inthistrenchantattackongovernmentmismanagement,LeoGoodstadttraceshowofficialshavecreateda‘newpoverty’inHongKongandarguesthattheirmisguidedpoliciesarebothalegacyofthecolonialeraandadeliberatechoicebymoderngovernments,andnottheresultofeconomiccrises.ThisprovocativebookwillbeessentialreadingforanyonewishingtounderstandwhypovertyreturnedtoHongKonginthiscentury.
