Hong Kong is one of the most expensive cities in the world, with the most unaffordable housing market and parking spaces. Over the last decade, the wealth disparity has gotten worse, and combined with global inflation, standards of living have been eroded. On Monday, the government raised the minimum wage 32 cents, which greatly aggravated labor activists and community leaders who claim the increase is essentially negligible and does not help address the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, many have urged the Hong Kong government to raise the minimum wage further. However, the Hong Kong Secretary for Labor and Welfare has rejected these appeals on the basis that work adds value to people's lives, as he believes that despite the low minimum wage people will still choose to work rather than be on welfare.
See "Amidst extremely high costs of living and growing wealth disparity, labor activists claim the Hong Kong government's minimum wage increase is insufficient", Jessie Yeung, CNN Business, May 2, 2023