"Small enterprises are facing a lot of competition from big companies and the government's existing policies do not provide a level playing field for the small firms," said Wong Hung, assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Social Work Department.
These disturbing factors are rarely highlighted by Hong Kong's politicians or its economists who tend to focus on output of goods and services, or gross domestic product, as the key measure of economic progress.
But Michael DeGolyer, associate professor of government and international studies at the Hong Kong Baptist University, says that the growing numbers of poor people could affect GDP growth.
Hong Kong's economy is now expected to grow two percent this year, a far cry from the eight to 10 percent growth rates of the 1980s and 1990s, but still positive.
Times may be tough, but wealth abounds.
Smell of luxury
Rolls Royce recently launched its ultra-luxurious, HK$5.6 million (US$718,000) Phantom car in Hong Kong. The territory has the highest proportion of Rolls Royces to people anywhere.
The smell of "the softest leather in the automobile industry" and a choice of wood veneers from West African mahogany to European elm is about as far removed from the entrance to Wong's Cheung Sha Wan cubicle as one can get.
"We think the Phantom will meet our sales targets here," said Colin Kelly, regional director for Asia Pacific at the launch.
An old television is the only luxury Wong's mother has.
Because the electric wiring is frail, it has to be switched off when she cooks rice.
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