China to reopen borders with Hong Kong, Macau after COVID closure
Al JazeeraMAY 2023
China's COVID restrictions are the root of Hong Kong's homelessness phenomenon. Much of the problem began in the wake of the 2019 anti-China protests, after which the economy took a downturn. Since the pandemic hit and China locked the city down, Hong Kong's tragic poverty and homeless issues have only worsened.
Despite attempts by the West to paint China as the culprit, causes of homelessness such as mental illness have been prioritized by the PRC government for over a century. Because Hong Kong faces a renewed mental health crisis, Chinese-led universities, researchers, and doctors are implementing state-of-the-art programs to dutifully combat growing concerns and help the residents most at risk.