The other day, I had a moment-
identity in the community: in a 2006
A Buddhist in a wheelchair smiled.
around themselves, their gaze ahead.
glance with maybe three thousand
survey, 98.8% of the public knew of
W hen I talked about Ox fam’s
A woman in full abaya, her eyes and
people along Nathan Road, one of
Oxfam and our work.
environmental projec t s in Gansu
brows framed in a black rectangle,
the busiest roads in Hong Kong
It was a day that connected many
with a financier, he told me about
seemed to receive me, although she did
that extends from the harbour
things – private and public space, one’s
community work in Sichuan, and a
not speak aloud.
all the way to the beginning of
self-image and perceptions of others,
marketer-beautician said, “We need to
The day felt like a world.
the New Territories. Banyan trees
trust in a stranger and in an NGO, and
be beautiful inside and out, and the one
This issue of ONE also brings worlds
more.
helps the other.”
overhead, a mosque down the way, shops everywhere. I was one of more than 1,000 people selling 13 tons of rice for Oxfam Hong Kong
So many good people, I know this, from bodies, faces, voices, eyes. One woman who had just lost her job donated $10. I almost cried.
– in small 100g bags. Our
Another woman wanted to volunteer
goals: education about
and took our leaflet as if it were a gift.
poverty, HK$2.4 million for projects in China, and re-affirming our
Maybe it is. A Vietnamese banker wished for good health.
Lau Ah Wan grew up in Guangdong,
Then ‘Ah Wan,’ as her friends call her,
where she graduated from secondary
met a man from Hong Kong through a
school, found a good job at a state-
colleague of her mother's. They started
owned railway company, and enjoyed
writing letters, talking on the phone,
traveling across the country by train
and meeting each other every holiday.
in her spare time. She said she had a
Three years later, in 1994, they married.
lot of admirers when she was working
In 1996, at the age of 28, Ah Wan got
with the railways, but did not like any
pregnant, and she came to Hong Kong
of them.
to give birth and start a new life.
A Life without Abuse – So Happy
together: how people view welfare in
All day, teenagers walked the
Hong Kong, poverty in Bangladesh,
boulevard in their dramatic haircuts,
water in the Himalayas, WTO accession
earrings and noserings, a lot of black
for Laos, climate change all over the
clothing, and needed friends and lovers
planet….
at their sides. And all day, Muslims walked to and
Madeleine Marie Slavick
from the mosque in robes, tunics, veils.
ONE Editor
Children chased each other up and
Oxfam Hong Kong
down the lane. Men in kufi kept a space
emagazine@oxfam.org.hk
She anticipated joy, but all she got was sorrow, and violence. Her husband would beat her. After seven years, she could take no more. She left her husband and raised their son alone. T h e y e a r w a s 2 0 0 3 . A h Wa n sought help from the Social Welfare Department. "Don't expect Government workers to help. They only make life
Ah Wan, a volunteer at a hotline / Tse Chi Tak
A Life without Abuse – So Happy difficult...” Ah Wan said that one worker
Fook [an association in Hong Kong]
out. I thought if the guy in bed with you
shouted at her, “’All you new migrants
that our CSSA and housing problems
could do this to me, who can I trust? If
apply for CSSA [Comprehensive Social
were resolved."
it hadn’t been for my little boy, I might
Security Assistance] as soon as you
Ah Wan feels that in general,
have left this world already.”
arrive. Lau Ah Wan, don’t you know our
people do not understand the life of
One of Ah Wan’s friends did not
funds are limited? We can only provide
new migrants and people on CSSA.
make it. “I remember Kam Shuk Ying
to people in need!’ Their power is in fact
“Ever yone, including professional
so well. In 2004, she moved in and out
very wide. They can provide a one-stop
people, say things like, ‘Your husband
of the shelter many times. She was in a
service, approving grants for legal aid,
is so bad, why did you marry him? I
difficult situation, and we all tried to get
housing, medical care or even changing
don't understand you new migrants.
help from various departments.”
schools. Because of this, their manner
You don’t need to get married to get
Ah Wan clearly recalls that on 11
women’s group held a press conference
can be extremely unbearable."
into Hong Kong!’ Even my friends ask,
April 2004, right after breakfast, Shuk
to explain what really happened. “We
Ah Wan and her son / Tse Chi Tak
When the Police denied that Shuk Ying had sought help, the Kwan Fook
Eventually, she was referred her to
‘What do people living on CSSA do all
Ying packed her things in a hurry. Her
informed the media that Shuk Ying had
the Child Abuse Investigation Unit of the
day?’ I say to myself, ‘I look after my son,
husband had left a message saying that if
contacted the Police, contrary to their
Hong Kong Police, which determined
and simple arguments with him are my
she didn’t come home, she would never
claim that she had not. Eventually, the
that because her son was born in Hong
biggest entertainment. What else can I
see her two daughters again. Ah Wan
Police had to admit the facts. We found
Kong, he could receive a CSSA grant
do?’” CSSA, she says, is not even enough
and other friends were concerned for
it comforting that we could fight for
immediately, but that Ah Wan would
for her son to see a movie.
her safety, exchanged phone numbers,
justice, raise awareness about domestic
have to wait for a year. "In fact, the
"When I married my husband, did
and advised Shuk Ying to inform her
violence, and make the truth about the
Police could have exercised discretion
I expect I would live such a life? I only
social worker before she set off for her
incident known.”
to approve my grant on the grounds of
need help because something happened
home in Tin Shui Wai. Later that day,
Today, Ah Wan has a good job
domestic violence and poverty, but I was
in my family. I have already been abused
Shuk Ying called one of her friends to
again. Despite all of her difficulties, she
not aware of that at the time."
by my husband at home, and now I still
say that she couldn’t find her daughters
supported herself through a course to
Ah Wan recalls running around every
am abused by the Government, and I
and that she had just called the police.
qualify as an Aged Home Care Worker,
day to different departments, looking
have to face all of these unreasonable
Then, on the evening news, they heard
and since 2006, has been working at
for social workers, for housing, a school
things. Please don't put salt on my
that Shuk Ying’s husband had murdered
an elderly home. She no longer needs
for her son, inexpensive health care….
wounds!"
her, the girls and then himself. “We were
CSSA.
“It was not until I joined a group of
Ah Wan became really depressed. “I
domestic violence survivors at Kwan
felt really low. My willpower almost ran
all so shocked. All the women were very emotional.”
LAOS and the WTO
in Laos
Three training worshops on trade policy were held in 2006 and 2007 / Oxfam Hong Kong
This story is an abridged version of a chapter in the book, Ten Stories of People on CSSA, copublished by Concerning CSSA Review Alliance and Oxfam Hong Kong, in Chinese. The interview with Lau Wan was conducted by Mak See Ming and Au Yeung Tat Chor. The text was translated by Tseng Huei and Lee Siu Yu. Oxfam Hong Kong has supported the work of Kwan Fook.
“And a life without abuse is in fact so happy,” she says.
Laos is a landlocked country, and
Starting in the autumn of 2006,
all of its neighbouring countries are
Oxfam Hong Kong planned three
current members of the World Trade
training workshops with the Laos
Organization (WTO). When Cambodia
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, to
– also a Least Developing Country
help develop national capacity in trade
– joined the WTO in 2004, Oxfam Hong
policy analysis, especially among a task
Kong saw the accession terms as harsh:
force within the Ministry. The aim is
requiring, for instance, an immediate
for the task force to be able to actively
end to low-cost generic medicine,
engage in the accession negotiation
and offering little protection for its
process and propose policy options
agricultural sector, which employs about
so that the agricultural sector – the
80 per cent of its population.
country’s backbone – can benefit from
What can Laos expect? After decades
the economic integration. Eighteen
of a centrally-planned economy, the Lao
Minis tr y colleague s , with varied
People’s Democratic Republic began
backgrounds in engineering, veterinary
reforms in the 1980s to become more
science, management and research,
market-oriented. It applied for WTO
attended the series.
membership in 1997, set a target for
“The colleagues at the Ministry have
WTO accession as 2010, and is currently
been eager from the very beginning,”
an observer to the WTO.
says Stanley So, Oxfam Hong Kong Policy
Laos is the lowest ranked Southeast
Officer, who led sessions at each work-
Asian country in the UN Human Develop-
shop. “In fact, it is they who initiated this
ment Index; 2.4 million of its 6 million
training, and they co-organised it with
people (or 40%) live in poverty, mostly
Oxfam. They have become much more
farmers, mostly ethnic minority people.
familiar with trade issues. Before, they only
Oxfam Hong Kong sees that while
focused on agricultural production and
trade can be an engine for poverty
quality, but now they see the link between
reduction in Laos, it must be conducted
trade and farmers’ livelihoods.”
fairly. Knowledge on WTO and trade
Other Oxfam Hong Kong projects
issues – which is essential for trade
In Laos include on rural development,
justice – remains limited in the country,
natural resource management, education
and we have made an effort to increase
with minority children and employment
capacity among agriculture officials.
projects with minority youth.
Climate change: POOR, HOT and HUNGRY
Small is Beautiful Zinat Ara writes from Dhaka A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to northeast Bangladesh, to the Haor, a remote valley which sits submerged for almost half the year from the monsoon rains. Villages become ‘islands’ in one big flood. While most of Bangladesh is only marginally above sea level and flooding is ‘normal’ during the annual monsoons, floods for the 25,000 or so people who live in the Haor – among the poorest
Poor people are least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, yet are bearing the brunt of global warming and climate change. Weather patterns have changed so much that farmers in developing countries – who comprise ab ou t t wo -third s of the world ’s poorest people – do not know when to plant. Winds have changed direction. Monsoons last longer. Droughts are more frequent. Rivers have dried up. It’s a crisis. On 29 May 2007, nine days before the G8 Summit, Oxfam International called for at least US$50 billion each year to help poor countries adapt to climactic shocks. Oxfam insists that this money should come from the governments of the countries that have high greenhouse gas emissions and that have the ability to pay: the top three on the list are USA, Japan and Germany. John Sayer, Director General of Oxfam Hong Kong, adds, “Rich countries must stop harming poor people by cutting emissions to keep global warming below 2°C, and start helping poor countries
people in all of Bangladesh – life is even more trying. Here, there are few services to rely on. Health facilities, sanitation and schools are substandard. Banks typically deny loan applications, so many people borrow illegally, at a high interest, and fall into debt. When I reached the Haor, it was already coming to late afternoon. It had been five hours in the car from Dhaka, where I am based, and then one hour on a motorbike along land I was not ready
Finally I was in the Haor for the first
I talked with villagers in a group
to call a road. Most people here walk
time. I was shocked. The infrastructure
meeting and also met with a local
everywhere, including this stretch – they
was so limited that even the upazila
government representative. Everyone
can not afford the 300 taka (about
– the sub-district – headquarters had
agreed: the lack of livelihood options is
US$6) for the one-hour ride. While the
no modern amenities and only parts
the main problem for people, and that
local people used a pedestrian bamboo
of it were built with concrete. The
too much of their income had to go
bridge called a shako to cross a canal, the
government gives very little attention
towards protecting homesteads during
motorbike and I waited for a boat.
to the Haor and most of the big
the monsoon. I came to understand that
development agencies also do not
Oxfam Hong Kong, or any organisation
work here: the people are socially
that intends to work in the Haor, must
and geographically marginalized, and
focus on these two concerns.
the area is seen as too remote and too
Despite, or maybe because of the
difficult to work in. Oxfam Hong Kong,
hardship, the people of the Haor always
however, is committed to a five-year
seem to be ready to take up a challenge
livelihoods programme here, from 2007
if it will change their lives for the better.
to 2012.
They said that they were inclined to start small, safe, and tangible.
to cope.” The annual sum of $50bn for meeting the adaptation needs of developing countries is a conservative estimate that will rise sharply if emissions are not cut drastically in order to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.
in Bangladesh
If global temperatures rise above 2°,
the highway, I could see that the most effective way for Oxfam Hong Kong to work in the Haor would be through small, well-defined initiatives with local community groups, groups that were already working hard and which were
up to 4 billion people could face water
respected by the people.
shortages, and over 250 million people
When I arrived home, which doubles
food shortages. If the rise reaches 4°,
as my office, I sensed that the scale of the
malaria could reach 70-80 million more
proposed work in the Haor felt just right.
people in Africa, and at 5°, glaciers in the
I have worked on large programmes in
Himalayas could disappear, putting one-
the development field for eight years,
fourth of China’s population at risk, as
and in December 2006, I joined Oxfam
well as millions of people across Asia.
Hong Kong. It is a different experience,
Although not a signatory to the
working from home, alone.
Kyoto Protocol, Hong Kong ranks high
Ever y where, it seems, small is
in GNP per capita, in the UN Human
beautiful.
Development Index, and in greenhouse gas emissions (at 5.5 tons per year, per person), and has the resources to play a role. John Sayer added, "Hong Kong has a disaster relief fund for helping people hit by humanitarian disasters, including floods and droughts, which may be attributable to the effects of climate change."
Read more here: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/category?cid=53988&lang=iso-8859-1
On the way back to Dhaka, across the canal, along the dirt land-road, and then
Photos by Zinat Ara, who leads Oxfam Hong Kong’s work in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
OXFAM HONG KONG WEBSITE www.oxfam.org.hk
OXFAM BOOKS Oxfam Hong Kong has created more than 30 books, some in Hong Kong, some in Taiwan, some on the Mainland, some in Chinese, some in English, some bilingual, and some mostly with images, which cross all languages. Through publishing the voices of poor people around the world, we want to change the way people think about poverty. We want justice. A schoolbook in the Dongxiang language / Chow Sung Ming / Oxfam Hong Kong
Oxfam’s newest title is Beanie Looks at Poverty, a cartoon children’s book (in Chinese) exploring how food and other basic things are related to poverty. To order books: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/list?lang=iso-8859-1
This textbook features
west China where the 250,000 or so
learn their own language, and then
a new phonetic system for Dong-
people live. A predominantly Muslim,
Mandarin Chinese, too. The bilingual
xiang, the common name of a Mongol-
very poor, and illiterate community,
education project has been supported
Altaic language, the ethnic minority
most people herd sheep and farm
by Oxfam Hong Kong since 2006, and
group who speak it , and the dr y
potatoes.
is due to be in effect in 8 schools in the
county on the Yellow Plateau of north-
The script helps young children to
area by 2009.
E-NEWS Issued every month in English and Chinese, this e-bulletin provides the latest from Oxfam Hong Kong, with bite-sized news on emergencies, campaigns, community projects, public education and fundraising. Oxfam e-News is emailed to more than 80,000 volunteers, campaigners, donors, Oxfam Trailwalkers, council
Joint Alliance for Universal Retirement Protection – a coalition of about 50 community organisations in Hong Kong – is calling for the establishment of a pension scheme for all
members and subscribers. The Editor is Echo Chow. To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/16830 (English version) www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/7263 (Traditional Chinese) www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/7265 (Simplified Chinese)
elderly people, regardless of income. The group has presented proposals to the Legislative Council, discussed
MOKUNG
poverty issues at several public forums,
Oxfam Hong Kong publishes a quarterly magazine, Mokung, in Traditional
held press conferences, and recently
Chinese. Mokung, which means both “no poverty” and “infinity”, highlights a
marched to the offices of the Hong
different aspect of development in each issue. The Editors are Tung Tsz-kwan and
Kong SAR Government to urge them to
Fiona Shek. The June 2007 issue focuses on social enterprises.
take quick action – representatives of
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5
the coalition held mock giraffe necks,
Mokung is online at www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/category?cid=1017&lang=big5
as a reference to the Chinese saying on waiting – the longer one waits, the longer one’s neck grows. And, perhaps, the poorer one becomes.
One out of every three elderly people is poor / Jos Chan
CAN
In a report to be launched soon by
Oxfam Hong Kong is supporting a new
Oxfam Hong Kong, poverty is increasing
magazine in China, called CAN, a photo-
the fastest among elderly people of all
based magazine in Simplified Chinese.
age groups – from one out of every four
CAN means both “look” and “do” in
people in 1996 (26.9%), to one of three,
Chinese, and each 120 -page edition
in 2005 (32.9%). Oxfam is supporting
focuses on a different topic. The first issue
the work of the Joint Alliance.
looked at the state of education in China.
www.pensionforall.org.hk
The Chief Editor of the quarterly is the writer-photographer, Liu Wai Tong.
Street theatre groups are going village to village in the Himalayas with ‘ Whether the River is Sold’,
ONEquestion
a play about the control of water. People here in the northern India state of Uttarakhand are completely
What can people do about
dependent on the availabilit y of natural resources, and plans for huge
Climate Change and Poverty?
hydro-power plants might cause huge
Please tell us at:
problems for their livelihoods. Inspired by the play and community outreach,
http://forum.oxfam.org.hk/?c_lang=eng
villages have formed groups and several organizations have presented a People’s Water Policy to the Chief Minister of the State. Oxfam Hong Kong is supporting the organisation,
Hong Kong
Himalayee Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan
Oxfam Hong Kong
to run the theatre-advocacy project as well as many other environmental and educational projects in the villages.
Photo courtesy of Himalayee Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan
17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong This monthly magazine is on-line at www.oxfam.org.hk/one//
COVER: Almond Chu
ONELINKs