A study has found that 44 percent of grassroots in Hong Kong would skip meals to save up, it has also found that 40 percent of them were worried about insufficient food at home.

The survey, conducted by charity group Food Grace, interviewed 509 individuals from vulnerable communities such as recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, people with disabilities, and low-income families last month.

The group said the survey found that many grassroots citizens choose low-cost but low-nutrient foods, such as fast food and processed foods, to save money, leading to an unbalanced diet. 

Many grassroots individuals living in inadequate housing like subdivided flats or rooftop homes also have limited food choices due to insufficient cooking facilities, it added.

The group highlighted that Hong Kong relies heavily on imported food, but extreme weather conditions globally have led to crop failures, unstable production, and rising prices, hitting the grassroots population the hardest.

The group called on both society and the government not only to ensure that grassroots individuals have access to sufficient food but also to enhance education and promotion to help them understand and acquire nutritional knowledge.

They also suggested researching and implementing nutritional food assistance and meal programs to alleviate the burden of food purchasing for the grassroots population.