Survey results report that people in Hong Kong are not as happy this year as they were last year, although Hongkongers under the age of 30 are more satisfied with their lives.
A Ming Pao report (as translated by EJ Insight) reported that Lingnan University’s happiness index for 2015 hit a seven-year low at 70 points (out of 100), down from 70.5 in 2014.
However, the subcategory of participants aged 29 and below scored 69.3 points, up from 67.8 last year.
A total of 913 Hong Kong residents aged 21 and above participated in the survey, which was conducted over the phone from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6.
Shiu Ka-chun, deputy director of the Centre for Youth Research and Practice at HKBU, said the higher rate of happiness amongst young people could be partially attributed to last year’s Occupy movement, because it was a way to release their pent-up dissatisfaction with society.
Those who work more than 60 hours a week ended up with an average score of 6.56 points out of 10, about 7 percent lower than people who work 39 hours or less. We’re not sure if this is supposed to be a revelation, but it’s good to have statistics to back up the argument for more hols.
The happiness index for families with a monthly income lower than HKD20,000 rose, while the index for families who earned more decreased. Ho Lok-sang, director of Lingnan University’s Centre for Public Policy Studies, said the raise in minimum wages could be a factor in the increased happiness of lower-income families.
Ho suggested that the government establish standard working hours to help Hongkongers achieve a better work-life balance. Hear, hear!
Photo: Myriam Tsen-Kung/Coconuts Media
