Hong Kong's Youth Aren't as Happy as Singapore's, Survey Finds

Tan KW

Publish date: Wed, 31 Jul 2019, 11:56 AM

(July 31): Hong Kong’s youth were less happy than their peers in Singapore even before historic protests erupted against legislation allowing extraditions to China, a survey by the City University of Hong Kong showed.

Researchers polled 2,304 people under the age of 40 -- with roughly half of the respondents in Hong Kong, and the other half in Singapore -- to gauge the relative appeal of living in the two rival Asian financial hubs. The “Happiness Index” study was conducted from January to June, just before demonstrations began.

The study found that Hong Kong residents rated their happiness levels at an average of 6.80 on a scale of 1 to 10, compared with 7.48 for Singaporeans. Of 11 poll categories covering satisfaction with political, recreational and economic conditions, people in Hong Kong -- the world’s priciest personal property market -- were the least pleased with their housing conditions.

Hong Kong’s historic protests, which began in early June, have been led in large part by students and other young people. They have morphed into a wider movement against growing Chinese influence over the city, with calls for Beijing-backed Chief Executive Carrie Lam to step down and escalating clashes between demonstrators and police.

The survey’s lead researcher, Professor Dennis Wong, said that if the study were conducted now, Hong Kong residents’ happiness levels would fall even lower.

“The protests have led to a group of young people becoming depressed because they feel helpless. The government is not listening to them,” Wong said, calling on Lam’s government to invite their youth for talks in order to resolve the issue. “If nothing is done in the near future, the numbers may grow rapidly to the point of no return.”

He said that increased malaise among Hong Kong’s youth would cause it to fall behind Singapore. “Hong Kong has already been overtaken by Singapore in many ways,” he said. “If this goes on, we will lose in every way.”

- Bloomberg

Discussions

Be the first to like this. Showing 5 of 5 comments

VWWong

There is no pride in forcing people to live under your roof. If Chinese Communist Party were to allow referendum to be held in Taiwan and Hong Kong, I am sure they will vote for independence. Same goes for Guangdong,Fujian, Tibet and Xinjiang. Uniting China principle is the same as the ISIS principle of creating a Islamic Caliphate. Both of these principle doesn't make sense and cause plenty of misery to the people in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjing and Tibet. As a Malaysian Chinese who has the freedom to criticize the government, I see the importance of "check and Balance".

2019-08-04 11:13

stockraider

Post removed.Why?

2019-08-04 11:20

bahai4453

Nowaday,youngsters just like frogs living in the deepwell. They are not suffer enough to understand the word "freedom" and "democracy". They always shouted the slogan : " We demand for freedom and democracy ! ". China shall never grant the permition to set Hong Kong free because the rebellious youngsters were waving US and UK flags during the riot. If they waving Thailand or Pakistani flags I think they may stand a chance to free Hong Kong from China. Just my opinion pls don't get offended.

2019-08-04 12:04

chinaman

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Saturday that he was in favour of placing ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in Asia relatively soon, a day after the United States withdrew from a landmark arms control treaty.
Esper’s comments are likely to raise concern about an arms race and could add to an already tense relationship with China

2019-08-04 12:08

qqq3

20 years no change.....still colonial mentality..........still being administered as a colony by the 1% for the 1%

2019-08-04 13:24

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