Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2013
Abstract
Results of Lingnan University’s Hong Kong Happiness Index Survey 2013 indicate a slight increase of Hong Kong people’s happiness index to 70.5, up from 70.3 last year on a scale of 0-100. Even though the uptick in the happiness index is insignificant, it is still unexpected in view of the social and political tensions in Hong Kong.
Satisfaction with the quality of public policy has fallen markedly from last year’s 4.77 to 4.14 on a scale of 0 to 10. Also declining noticeably is satisfaction with the living environment from 6.03 to 5.75. Overall, only healthcare generated a satisfaction score of 6 or above. The media is also deemed to be unsatisfactory, with a rating of 5.10, about the same as last year.
Work pressures, excessively long hours, and financial pressures continue to be important causes of unhappiness among Hong Kong people. According to the survey results, low-income families are generally less happy than those better off. The lowest happiness score, at 65.31, goes to those who report family incomes between $1 and $9,999 per month. Those reporting family incomes at $40,000 or above report the highest happiness at 73.3.
As in previous years, females continue to command a premium over males in happiness, and older people tend to be happier. Those who take success to mean realising one’s potential through one’s best effort and those who score high in a sense of balance and those with a strong sense of purpose in life score high on Insight and tend to be happy.
Four key determinants of happiness, namely Love, Insight, Fortitude and Engagement (LIFE) have been surveyed since 2008. Happily for Hong Kong, the Love score has continued to climb, rising to a historic high of 8.50 from last year’s already impressive 8.10. Also rising noticeably are Insight (up 0.19 point to 7.15) and Fortitude (up 0.24 point to 7.68, also a historical high), while Engagement stays at more or less the same level.
Designed by the Centre for Public Policy Studies of Lingnan University, the Hong Kong Happiness Index Survey 2013 is the ninth in the series. A total of 942 respondents aged 21 or above were interviewed by telephone through randomised digit dialing from 8 to13 November. The response rate is 26%.
嶺南大學2013年香港快樂指數調查結果顯示，香港人的快樂指數較去年的70.3輕微上升至70.5（以0至100分計算）。儘管升幅並不顯著，但觀乎香港目前社會及政治上的矛盾，結果仍使人感到意外。 受訪者對公共政策質素的滿意度由去年的4.77跌至今年的4.14（以0至10分計算），對居住環境的滿意度則由去年的6.03跌至今年的5.75。縱觀各項結果，只有公共醫療獲得6分或以上，即尚算滿意的分數。市民對媒體評價亦低，以0至10分計算，僅得5.10，與去年相若。 工作壓力、長工時及財政壓力持續為導致香港人不快樂的主要因素。今年的調查發現，低收入家庭的快樂程度低於收入較高的家庭。報稱月入1元至9,999元的家庭，其快樂指數最低，只有65.31。月入4萬元以上的家庭，受訪者的平均快樂指數為73.3，在所有收入組別中最高。 一如既往，女性普遍比男性更快樂，年紀較長的人士，其快樂指數亦較高。此外，分別認為竭盡所能、發揮所長就是成功，能夠平衡不同需要，以及對生活有明確目標的受訪者，其智慧指數較高，亦傾向較為快樂。 自2008年起，嶺南大學每年均就關愛、智慧、堅毅、行動（LIFE）等與心理質素相關的因素進行調查。今年LIFE指數全面上升，結果令人振奮。其中關愛指數由去年的8.1升至新高的8.5；堅毅指數同樣創了新高，升了0.24點至7.68；智慧指數升了0.19點至7.15。行動指數則稍微上升。 2013年香港快樂指數調查由嶺南大學公共政策研究中心設計，今年是第九年進行調查。今年11月8日至13日期間，成功以電話訪問了隨機抽樣的942名21歲以上受訪者，回應率為26%。是次調查由嶺南大學公共管治計劃協助執行，並獲得施永青基金贊助，公共政策研究中心謹表謝忱。
Press Release
Recommended Citation
Ho, L. S. (2013). Hong Kong Happiness Index Survey 2013. Retrieved from http://commons.ln.edu.hk/hkhi/5/
Comments
The Centre for Public Policy Studies is pleased to acknowledge the help from the Public Governance Programme of the University in conducting the telephone survey and the financial support from the Shih Wing Ching Foundation who funded the study.