Understood. But for some people life in Hong Kong is not as developed as for others - like you and me.
How much money do you think a tout earns? Or a prostitute in Temple Street? You may have a better idea than me, but I don't think man of them are making your "good money" - unless you are talking an undeveloped-country context.
Then again, I'm sure none of them would want to earn as much as a 25-year-old financial analyst or hedge fund manager. Touting and prostitution are so much more lucrative and lots more fun to boot! Forget about Mid-Levels - they much prefer life in the poorer parts of Hong Kong where poverty and violence go on unseen by most of the rest of us.
Obviously I can't tell you definitively in every instance whether or not these people want to do what they are doing. Perhaps you can ask them if they want to swap with you - and maybe you can think about their likely answer, which should provide an interesting perspective for anyone who is bigoted enough to believe that all these people need is to stop being so greedy, get a real job and start working harder.
Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers gives a simple explanation for why many people end up where they do - successful and otherwise - invariably because of their external circumstances (ie situations not of their doing) and chiefly because of the connections/luck they have in their lives.
Do you ever think "But for the grace of God (eg who my parents were, what ethnicity I am etc.) I could be in this same situation?" Or maybe you think you achieved everything you have just because you worked at it yourself.
Now back to the original topic: No-one has yet explained what to do when I'm approached by these people as I asked in my earlier comments.
Everyone can be an armchair philosopher and form wonderful theoretical conclusions that are difficult to dispute, but what about some practical advice for those of us with twisted minds.
How do you respond to touts and solicitations from prostitutes? What do you say? Do you yell at them and tell them to get a real job? Do you simply tell them to F*** Off as has been suggested by some? Do you treat them with a degree of respect and understanding and move on? Do you call the police?
Can you please tell me what you do, and why?