HK Chinese language press (2009)
HK English language press (2009)
Previous Press Releases: 20 March 2008 English Chinese
17 March 2009 - Press Release
Happiness Levels Drop in Hong Kong from 2008 to 2009 while the
New ‘Level’ Playing Field Boosts Confidence among Middle Income Earners 中文
Hong Kong Shue Yan University researchers Thomas Yuen Wai Kee 袁偉基 and Mark Greene 麥哲華 renewed their efforts to examine levels of self-reported happiness among Hong Kong residents earlier this month. What they found was a six percentage point drop (79% 2008; 73% 2009) in respondents describing themselves as ‘certainly happy’ or ‘quite happy’ when compared to data gathered during the same period last year. While extraordinary changes in the world’s financial environment might be blamed for the overall decrease, other measures of life satisfaction and optimism revealed some surprising changes across income lines.Being secure in the knowledge that one is protected from violence and crime also dropped significantly from 39% in 2008 to 35% in 2009. Although originally conceived as way to gauge a resident’s sense of personal and neighbourhood safety, it is likely that the collapse of Lehman Brothers brought home the realization that perhaps crimes had been perpetrated in Hong Kong after 12 billion dollars in bonds evaporated from local portfolios.
Respondents also demonstrated less certainty this year than last that their social network could provide care for them at home in the event of a serious illness. This may be due to family members who were home-based in 2008 having to seek out part time jobs to make ends meet in 2009.
The indomitable Hong Kong spirit can be seen in the data which reveal virtually no change in levels of self-esteem and positive self-image among respondents compared to last year. Overall Hong Kong morale, resiliency and hardiness may be responsible for the maintenance of these levels. Indeed, it is in ‘tough times’ that we learn about the substance and character of people around us who carry on with a fighting spirit.
An increase of seven percentage points this year (60% 2008; 67% 2009) was seen among respondents who were certain they would have done things differently in their lives if they knew what they know now. From an investor’s point of view, this may reflect what we know today: MPF earnings have returned to 2000 levels and fixed-deposits have out-performed Hong Kong stock portfolios over the last 22 years.
One of the only increases in this year’s survey is represented by levels of confidence in the respondents’ overall direction in life. Surprisingly, an increase of five percentage points was observed amongst respondents (64% 2008; 69% 2009) who believed they might be on track towards realizing their true potential compared with last year’s results. This may be attributed to the ‘levelling’ of the playing field that has resulted with the disappearance of billions of dollars in stock values among the most wealthy thus providing those who may have had ‘nothing to lose’ before a belief that they now have a solid footing.
When broken down by income levels, the contrast further supports this hypothesis. Indeed, the number of respondents living in households with HK$30,000 or more income per month in 2009 showed a four percentage point drop (27% 2008; 23% 2009) in the number of those who felt certain of being ‘on track’ towards realizing their full potential. Those in the next bracket down, however ($15-$29.9 thousand per month) showed a three percentage point increase in the number of respondents who felt more certain that they were on track (17% 2008; 20% 2009)! Last year’s observed gap between rich and poor in terms of exploring and realizing one’s inner potential seems to be narrowing.
This is another reason for believing that ‘potential’, and perhaps even happiness, in Hong Kong may translate directly from ‘opportunities’ for wealth accumulation.
Overall results
No highlighting = 2009
Yellow highlighting = 2008How happy is your life now?
Certainly not happy
Not quite happy
Quite happy
Certainly happy
5%
21%
57%
16%
2009 4%
16%
60%
19%
2008
Are you confident that you are protected from violence and crime in your neighbourhood?
Certainly not confident
Maybe not confident
Maybe confident
Certainly confident
3%
13%
49%
35%
2009 2%
11%
48%
39%
2008
If you were seriously ill at home, is there a friend, neighbor or family member you could count on to take care of you?
Certainly no one
Maybe no one
Maybe someone
Certainly someone
2%
10%
34%
53%
2009 3%
9%
30%
57%
2008
Do you see yourself in a positive light?
Certainly not
Maybe not
Maybe
Certainly
3%
15%
49%
34%
2009 4%
13%
50%
33%
2008
Do others share the same favorable impression of you that you reported in question 4.1?
Certainly not
Maybe not
Maybe
Certainly
2%
18%
63%
17%
2009 3%
17%
62%
18%
2008
If you could live your life over, would you change anything?
Certainly nothing
Maybe nothing
Maybe something
Certainly something
10%
23%
41%
26%
2009 18%
22%
38%
22%
2008
Are you on track to realizing your full inner potential?
Certainly not
Maybe not
Maybe
Certainly
7%
25%
50%
18%
2009 11%
25%
46%
19%
2008
Contact:
Dr. Mark Greene 麥哲華 mobile: 6231-0610 office: 2104-8264 fax: 2806-8044
Department of Counselling and Psychology
Hong Kong Shue Yan University
http://wellbeing.hksyu.edu/newsJeffery Chan 2806-5121
Administrative Assistant
袁偉基
香港樹仁大學經濟與民生研究計劃研究統籌
聯絡電話：97296685, 28065171 (直線)
http://fs3.hksyu.edu/~wkyuen/news/行政助理陳智豪
聯絡電話：28065121 (直線)