The HKSAR government released the report of the Task Force on Population Policy on Feb. 26, a report that focused most of its recommendations on the elderly, mainland immigrant families, foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), mainland professionals and investment immigrants. The basic thrust of the report was that the first three of these population groups—the elderly, mainland immigrant families and foreign domestic helpers (FDHs)—are a drag on the economy while the last two groups—mainland professionals and investment immigrants—are Hong Kong's saviours. Consequently, measures are proposed to make life in Hong Kong more difficult for those who are deemed to inhibit our economy and to facilitate the arrival of those who will stimulate it.

Our conclusions as a Christian organisation are that we believe that such proposals are short-sighted, discriminatory and lack compassion. They will create more social problems than they will solve.

First of all, introducing a levy and cutting the minimum wage of FDHs not only discriminates against FDHs, but it also breaks the harmonious relationship of FDHs with their employers and their families.

Secondly, restricting the access of OWP immigrants to social benefits will create more separated families, particularly between mothers and children. As a result, it will affect the healthy development of these families and impair the integration of new immigrants into Hong Kong society.

Moreover, who are the people who will benefit from the government's policy to invite people with wealth to invest in Hong Kong? Clearly, a major beneficiary will be the real estate tycoons and financial institutions.

If a population policy's aim is to provide a good and caring environment so that each person in the community will have an equal opportunity to grow and help each other, we must not simply see how much investment we can attract to Hong Kong, but rather, we must seek to restore a sense of human compassion and must respect each person's human rights and view everyone as equal.

Lastly, we must emphasise the family as the most important social unit of our community. We can do this concretely by granting right of abode to all of Hong Kong people's children who have been born on the mainland and to allow their children to come with their mothers to Hong Kong so that they can have access to proper parental care.

Underlying all of these changes is a fundamental question: Does the market exist to serve people, or do people exist to serve the market? The answer affects the nature of society and the way people relate to one another and, oh yes, population policy.

Rose Wu

Director

Hong Kong Christian Institute