1. THE BUSINESS CASE FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION
HONG KONG PEOPLES COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
THE BUSINESS CASE
FOR
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Albert Lai September 2004

2. * Is this a Sustainable trend?
Risk of Sustainability
* Is this a Sustainable trend?

3. Washington Consensus vs Sustainable Development
An Embedded Ideology
* Strict fiscal discipline
* Reduce government deficits & taxes
* Reduce role of state
Washington Consensus
* deregulation
* Improve conditions for FDI
* trade-oriental policies
Washington Consensus vs Sustainable Development

4. * Is HK a victim of Washington Consensus ?
A Widening Gap
Reducing ability to
provide government support
Increasing need for
public support
Worsening
poverty
Tax freeze
structural
deficit
“jobless”
growth
globalizing
forces
* Is HK a victim of Washington Consensus ?

5. Business Case for Poverty Alleviation
Collapsing Vision of a Caring Society
Threat to business / FDI environment
Social risk
Social justice
POVERTY
Sustainable development
Lost capital, lost opportunities