Hong Kong people are well known for their generosity in giving to charities. But when it comes to paying workers with the least bargaining power, they appear most tight fisted.

This mean streak has manifested itself vividly in the rejection of the government's earlier call for employers to voluntarily raise the salaries of the many thousands of workers, mainly cleaners and security guards, who are widely considered to be living below the poverty line.

Local media reported that by the end of September, less than 10 percent of the 11,500 or so employers of cleaners or security guards had joined the government's sponsored "voluntary wage protection movement". The cool response had obviously caught Commissioner of Labor Cherry Tse Ling Kit-ching by surprise. She reportedly said the number of "participating" companies was "far below our expectations".