poverty line

The poverty line, traditionally used as a benchmark for financial assistance, is being re-evaluated for its limitations. Hong Kong's welfare minister has defended the government's decision to move away from solely using the poverty line as an indicator for aid. The minister stated that the poverty line is a limited statistical concept that fails to capture the needs of various vulnerable groups, such as unpaid carers, who may not fall below a low-income threshold. In response, the government has introduced a new 21-indicator framework designed to identify a wider range of needy individuals and families. This shift signifies a move towards a more comprehensive approach to social welfare, recognizing that income alone is not the sole determinant of vulnerability or need for support. The relevance of the poverty line as a sole measure is thus diminishing in favor of more nuanced assessment tools.