【明報專訊】THE number of people living in poverty in Hong Kong has risen to an eight-year high. Government officials, though promising stronger action to alleviate poverty, said that the ageing population was causing upward pressure on poverty figures, and there is little room for the poverty rate to come down. The government has vowed to improve people's livelihood, and the alleviation of poverty should be its focus. The government should not say prematurely that poverty alleviation is a lost cause and concede defeat before making a real effort.