A Census and Statistics Department study released on Monday
found that households with monthly income below HK$4,000 (about
US$512) in Hong Kong rose from 6.7 percent in 1996 to 9.2 percent
last year.
The study also shows that those with income of HK$40,000 (about
US$5121) or more grew from 15 percent to 17 percent in Hong
Kong.
The department said one of the reasons for the rise in the
former was the increasing number of older-person households. The
increase in the latter was mainly associated with the growth of
two-earner households and improvement in the educational attainment
of the population.
The study found that the median monthly income from main
employment of the working population rose 5.3 percent from HK$9,500
(about US$1216) in 1996 to HK$10,000 (about US$1,280) last
year.
The distribution of income from main employment by decile group
indicated that there was a fall in the share of income attributed
to lower decile groups, and a rise in the share to higher ones.
The increased dispersion in the distribution of employment
income from 1996 to 2006 was associated with changes in the
demographics of the population and the structure of the economy
over the period, including the income differentials due to gender,
lifecycle and education, the department said.
Hong Kong Commissioner for Census and Statistics Fung Hing-wang
said Hong Kong is an open city economy with a strong agglomeration
of service sector activities that are highly developed and well
diversified, employing workers with multifarious experience and
skills.
"Given this nature, income disparity in Hong Kong tends to be
greater than in those places with a preponderance of manufacturing
and agricultural activities. Moreover, there is a common trend
towards greater income disparity in many economies. Hong Kong is
not unique in moving in this direction," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2007)