Hong Kong - Middle-class victims of the economic slump are seeking help from a food bank for the poor in Hong Kong, a charity said Monday.

The charity said there had been about 10 instances in the wealthy city of 6.9 million in recent months where former business owners who had fallen on hard times had sought help.

Connie Ng, supervisor of the Saint James Settlement Food Bank, told government-run radio station RTHK the number of people seeking help had doubled in the past three months.

The food bank gives out milk powder and food aid to families in need in Hong Kong, where there is only limited government welfare support available.

Hong Kong has been hard hit by the global slump with property prices falling sharply and the Hang Seng Index shedding 50 per cent of its value since the beginning of 2008. (dpa)