Household food affordability and privatized public shopping centres in Hong Kong : a case study of Tin Shui Wai

Abstract

Shopping centres serve the estate for multi-purposes. In the initial stage, the shopping centres of HKHA were to achieve self-containment within the estate by subsidizing the rental rate to keep the expenditure on daily necessities of the nearby residents inexpensive.

Suspension of HOS in 2004 imposed direct and significant impacts on the operation of HKHA. To develop new housing to address increasing demand on PRH because of the economic depression, the HKHA launched an asset divestment programme launched by HKHA in 2005. The Link privatized about 180 no. of shopping centres and associated parking facilities in 2005.

In board term, the Household Food Affordability means the capacity of a household to afford good-quality food without undue stress. According to the EIU, food affordability is defined as the capacity to afford good-quality food without undue stress is a crucial aspect of food security.

Although there is no direct figure in global metrics like FFPI, World Bank Food Global Index or the Food Index of the Oxfam UK to record the food prices index or affordability particularly for Hong Kong, some local NGO have regularly conducted survey and studies to review the changes in food prices and the Government has been regularly carrying out survey to record the household expense against expense on food. This research will have the food affordability to be defined as the ratio of household income spending on staple food and meals bought away from home.

Survey will be conducted in this study for face-to-face questionnaires and interview in order to to collect primary data about the respondents’ opinion and suggestion about the privation of public shopping centres and the household food affordability. Data form the Government, the Link and other NGO will be reviewed and further studied to evaluate the positive and negative influences on the household food affordability by the privatization of shopping centers by the Link.

It is suggested the Government to expand the food assistance services of NGO for the people in need and reconsider revitalizing the alternative shopping place – Tin Sau Bazaar in North Tin Shui Wai to maximum its benefit in relieving the food affordability issue. The Link is also suggested to continuously support the projects of food donation, sharing and distribution for the families in need. Residents of North Tin Shui Wai are one of the key stakeholders and therefore their direct involvement to ease the food affordability issue is equally important.