Before diving into an interactive simulation, SDG×EL ambassadors first confronted a stark reality: In Hong Kong, the wealthiest households earn 81.9 times more per month than the poorest; a gap that translates to approximately HKD 4,100 versus HKD 50 per day. 

Dr. Norman Mendoza, opened the SDG 10 workshop by contextualizing inequality beyond simple income differences. “Inequality is not merely about differences in wealth or income,” he explained to participants. “It refers to systematic and unjust disparities in opportunities, rights, resources, and social status among people, often based on their background or the social groups to which they belong.” 

Understanding Inequality Through Data 

The session started with ambassadors rating Hong Kong’s wealth disparity on a scale from 1 (very equal) to 10 (very unequal) via an interactive poll. Participants then examined Hong Kong’s Gini coefficient data, showing values hovering around 0.42, well above the international threshold of 0.4 that indicates significant income disparity. According to Oxfam’s 2024 report, approximately 1.39 million people in Hong Kong remain in poverty, with women comprising 53% of this population. 

The presentation emphasized that official poverty measurements often fail to capture the full picture. Specifically, the official poverty line fails to fully capture grassroots living pressures, particularly how housing, healthcare, and education costs compound inequality in ways that simple income metrics cannot reveal. 

The Consequences of Inaction 

Using slides illustrating the differences between equality, equity, and reality, the workshop outlined what happens when societies fail to address SDG 10: 

At the individual level: “Birth determines destiny” becomes reality, where a person’s postcode (living in Sham Shui Po versus The Peak), family background, race, or gender matters more than talent and hard work. 

At the societal level: People live in “parallel universes” with mutual misunderstanding and distrust, breeding prejudice against minorities, newcomers, and foreign workers, potentially leading to social crime and unrest. 

At the economic level: Inequality stalls growth by preventing people from reaching full productivity, limiting purchasing power, and stifling the diversity that drives innovation. 

The session also introduced the Matthew Effect, which describes how initial advantages lead to cumulative benefits while disadvantages compound losses, often summarized as “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” 

Theory to Experience: The Trading Game 

With this foundation established, the session transitioned to experiential learning, where participants engaged in a trading game using different colored chips, each assigned specific point values. 

In Round One, participants worked toward accumulating points through regular trading, mimicking everyday resource acquisition, opportunity-seeking, and growth. But Round Two introduced the real lesson: each ambassador received different trading conditions based on actual privileges and disadvantages within the Hong Kong context. 

Some received structural “privileges” (e.g., starting early, earning bonus points), while others faced “disadvantages” such as communication restrictions or severely limited trading time. These conditions mirrored real-world barriers: educational access, family wealth, language proficiency, immigration status, and gender-based constraints. 

As trading unfolded, participants observed firsthand how unequal starting points significantly shaped outcomes. While effort and strategy mattered, structural advantages often accelerated progress, while disadvantages created barriers difficult to overcome. 

One ambassador reflected: “In the game, I gained few advantages… I realized real-life inequality is far more complex. We are defined by our social class from birth… If a truly equal world existed, I would hope that everyone’s efforts would be rewarded.” 

Pathways Forward 

The session concluded by presenting actionable pathways to reduce inequality, aligned with SDG 10’s ten targets: 

• Target 10.1: Reduce income inequalities 

• Target 10.2: Promote universal social, economic, and political inclusion 

• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination 

• Target 10.4: Adopt fiscal and social policies that promote equality 

• Target 10.5: Improved regulation of global financial markets and institutions 

• Target 10.6: Enhanced representation for developing countries in financial institutions 

• Target 10.7: Responsible and well-managed migration policies 

• Target 10.8: Special and differential treatment for developing countries 

• Target 10.9: Encourage development assistant and investment in least developed countries 

  • Target 10.a: Reduce transaction costs for migrant remittances 

Three key pathways emerged: driving transformative change within nations through increased funding for health, education, and social protection; reforming global governance to ensure developing countries have voice in decision-making; and implementing responsible migration policies for those displaced by conflict, discrimination, and poverty. 

The session ended with practical actions ambassadors could take immediately: donating to established charities like the Hong Kong Red Cross, raising voices against discrimination, volunteering with organizations like Christian Family Service Centre, and staying informed by following @TheGlobalGoals. 

Through this combination of data-driven context and experiential learning, the workshop deepened understanding of how inequality operates systemically and inspired ambassadors to think critically about building not just a society with reduced inequality, but one with increased inclusivity for all. 

Last edited: 12  February 2026