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Action Card Briefing - July 2004
One of the main concerns our Chinese partners has is the increasing gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” in China. While many of the eastern coastal cities are enjoying a period of phenomenal growth and development, rural areas in inland central and western provinces have seen little benefit from this economic boom. Cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Shenzen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou are now sophisticated, cosmopolitan cities where the vast majority of residents enjoy a standard of living equal to that of any Western City. However, in rural areas where the majority of the Chinese population lives, the opposite is true. In China there is a total population of 1.3bn people, of that number two-thirds live in the countryside. The official Chinese Government measure of poverty is an income equivalent to £63 per annum. Using this measure, 30 million Chinese are living in abject poverty – the equivalent of the entire Canadian population. Another poverty measure is people living on less than £1.50 per day. This measure gives China 400 million poor people. Staggering figures whichever measure is used. 100 million Chinese do not have access to any medical services whatsoever in addition to the 30 million who have difficult access. 3-5 million children, of school age, have no access to education.
Organisations like The Amity Foundation and the China Christian Council Social Services Department are seeking to “fill in the gaps” left by breakneck economic development, gaps such as social injustice, moral and ethical issues, breakdown of the traditional family unit, cradle to grave Government support.
The postcard and a message of support for those that work with The Amity Foundation and the China Christian Council Social Services Dept can be sent via Ian Groves, a Staff Associate seconded by the CTBI China Forum.
Ian Groves The Amity Foundation Hong Kong Office, 13th F, Ultragrace Commercial Building, 5 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Postage 42p + airmail sticker
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