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To : all members of the Commission on Poverty

We understand that the Commission on Poverty will conduct the first meeting soon after the Chinese New Year when 24 members from different professions will sit together to study the problem that has beset Hong Kong in recent years. While poverty affects all walks of life in the local community, we particularly wish to draw your attention to children in poverty. Though the community has not yet reached a consensus on the definition of poverty, there are estimated to be over 300,000 children aged between 0 ¡V 18 living on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance; residing in small cubicles or leading a life that is extremely unfavourable. No matter how we draw the line or define poverty, these children are suffering in reality and are badly in need of help from the government and from the community. If we continue to let their problems linger on, the poverty cycle will continue.

Define poverty from the special needs of children

Children are not adults in miniature. Their needs vary considerably at different ages. An infant requires complete care for basic needs such as feeding, warmth, cleanliness and protection from harm. As he grows, he needs formal education that provides more opportunities for self-expression and social intercourse with peers and members of the community. Play opportunities, social and cultural activities and a safe living environment are vital to the development of a child. Children barred from participating in these activities, as other children do, tend to have a lower self-esteem, poorer motivation, performance, peer relationships and the capacity to be resilient, to bounce back from adversity and failure. The Commission must be sensitive to the varying requirements of children and be prepared to adapt to circumstances flexibly, so that families can be empowered and receive support as effectively as possible. A rigid policy will only leave children and families living at or near the margin of poverty, unable to make effective use of those resources which may be available.

Let children participate

The HKCCR appreciates the government¡¦s move to appoint people from different sectors into the Commission, as it clearly sends a message that the government is ready to join hands with different sectors to combat the problem. The Commission comprises key government officials, businessmen, social workers, academics and lawmakers. However, we do not see any representation of children in an issue that so radically affects them, or a child advocate that will listen to the views of children, represent them and put forward their views. While we agree that children might not feel comfortable to have meetings with adults in a non child-friendly setting, we strongly call on the Commission to establish an effective mechanism for children to participate. For example, conduct meetings to consult and collect views from children; pay visits to children in poverty; co-operate with and support children¡¦s groups; and produce child friendly materials for consultation.

Some people may still consider children¡¦s participation as ¡¥child play¡¦. However, a problem related to children could not be truly solved without the participation of children themselves. Overseas experiences tell us that children¡¦s participation is essential and indispensable in addressing child-related issues including poverty. Indeed, there are many children¡¦s groups in the community using different means to provide a voice for their fellow children who are invisible in the government structure and this adult-centred society. One of these groups is the Children¡¦s Council Working Committee. They moved a motion ¡§The government should map out policies to ensure basic living standards for children in poverty¡¨ at the Children¡¦s Council 2004 in the Legislative Council Building last May. The motion was prepared following the use of child friendly questionnaires, home visits and interviews with more than a thousand children in poor families. These children can present you with the problem as vividly portrayed through the eyes of children. We sincerely hope and trust that you will genuinely listen to them, respect their views and their right to participation in matters affecting them.

Take a proactive role to combat poverty

The community places high hope on the Commission to combat poverty. We do not wish to see a report coming out without a clear direction and schedule that leads us nowhere. We need a proactive Commission to:

- Review existing policies, practices and suggest changes;

- Develop plans for actions and fulfillment of targets set for improvement for the entire society;

- Develop indicators to measure the implementation of proposals for improvement of the problem;

- Communicate and cooperate with the voluntary sector to seek better ways to meet the needs of children.

"The well-being of children requires our utmost attention. Let us make a solemn commitment to give high priority to the rights of children, to their survival and to their protection and development. After all, we do this not only for the present generation, but for all generations to come. There can be no task nobler than giving every child a better future," as stated by the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children on 30 September 1990.

Date : 16 February 2005

Hong Kong Committee on Children¡¦s Rights