HONG KONG: The number of people seeking food aid has declined in recent months, another sign that there is some improvement in the economy, local food banks say.

Five welfare organizations were chosen by the government to provide food assistance citywide. They've operated under a HK$100 million fund since February 27.

The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals was selected to dish out food in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong.

Its district co-ordinator, Mariana Wong Man-fong, said some 1,300 people in dire need had been served in March, but the number fell to around 500 a month from May to July.

"It may be because the city started to ride out of the financial tsunami and the overall job market is getting better, except for teenagers. But jobless youngsters can still rely on their parents, so their need for food aid is not strong," she said.

Wong said the demand for food assistance has not been as large as had been expected. "If this trend continues, the money given can allow the program to run about two years," she said.

In her initial plan, she expected the scheme would sustain itself for about one and a half years.

Under the scheme, each welfare group is given a service fee of HK$12 million paid in installments and a one-off starter fee of HK$2.5 million. The government said the remaining HK$27.5 million will be set aside to meet future service demand.

Authorities earlier predicted at least 50,000 people would benefit from the program, with each recipient getting mainly dry food for about six weeks.

As the Tung Wah group allows recipients to re-apply six months after receiving food aid, Wong said next month could see another peak in the number of applicants.

"In the West Kowloon area, many residents are low-paid workers, but the living costs are high, so they may seek food aid to help relieve their financial burden," she said.

Wong said she sees a constant need for food aid in the area and has called on authorities to provide recurring funding for the program.

The Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council was chosen to provide food aid in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long.

Louisa Lee Mee-ling, the council's service director, said it served around 600 people a month between March and April, but the number later dropped to some 400 a month with the jobless rate stabilized and the economy picking up.

Lee said the drop in the number of service users may also result from declining attention given to the scheme by media and councilors.

"Some residents may not be aware of this service, so we will continue to liaise with district councilors and other welfare groups, put up banners at Light Rail and West Rail line stations as well as set up booths in the area to promote the program," she said.

She predicted the demand for food aid will stabilize in the coming months that the present government funding will be sufficient to finance the program for another two and a half years.

The St. James' Settlement has been funded to serve the hungry in Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Hong Kong Island and other outlying islands since late February.

Connie Ng Man-yin, the manager of the People's Food Bank, said it served about 1,000 residents a month between March and July, but the number is down slightly so far this month.

She expected demand will be steady in the next few months.

Ng said although the five welfare groups have no common database for recording the names of their service users, she believes it unlikely that some individuals would make duplicate applications, since local residents are required to show proof of their addresses.

But she recognized that it is hard to check if street sleepers seek food aid from more than one group at the same time.

(HK Edition 08/29/2009 page1)