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Jane Li

Fifty-seven per cent of adults in Hong Kong are compulsive hoarders, a survey has found, with 11 per cent of respondents ­displaying compulsive shopping behaviour.
Stationery, cosmetics and bracelets were among popular items hoarded by residents aged 18 and above, according to the study, which polled 1,028 people from April to May.
Wofoo Social Enterprise, an organisation that promotes organ donations and sustainable development, said the survey was part of its push for people to adopt a minimalist lifestyle.
Hongkongers’ shopping habits among unhealthiest in the world, survey reveals
The poll found more than 30 per cent of respondents had 11 or more pairs of shoes, while more than 40 per cent said they owned six or more backpacks.
“We noticed some people shopping excessively and wanted to raise awareness on this issue,” said Michael Ma, deputy supervisor of Wofoo Leaders’ Network, an affiliate of the social enterprise.
The poll found that more than 30 per cent of respondents had 11 or more pairs of shoes, while over 40 per cent said they owned six or more backpacks.
Causes for compulsive shopping and hoarding include a lack of self-confidence, inner emptiness and greed, according to the survey. It said people who developed such patterns tended to be chronic procrastinators, indecisive and had difficulty organising or planning things.
Hong Kong is shopaholic and wasteful, even with a retail slowdown
“Society has also urged people to shop, which is one reason there are many shopaholics,” Ma said.
“We encourage members of society to change their living ­habits and attitudes, to achieve simple living that brings about satisfaction.”
Compulsive shopping, or oniomania, and hoarding were often associated with mental ­disorders such as depression or anxiety, psychiatrist Dr Chung See-yuen said.
But a trip to seek help at a clinic was unnecessary if people did not feel upset, regretful or nervous after their purchases.
“There is a fine line between collectors and compulsive hoarders,” Chung said. “The main basis for [differentiating them] is to see if one’s collecting or shopping ­behaviour starts to affect his or her family relations or the person’s mental health.
“If someone does not feel guilty or distressed at all, then he or she will not be seen as a compulsive hoarder or shopper.”
Hongkongers must learn some self-control when shopping for clothes
White collar worker Lam Tze-kwan, 32, has amassed a lipstick collection of similar colours from different brands.
“I prefer looking at them and not using them,” she said. “When work in the office annoys me, I will go browsing for cosmetics and shop.”
Lilian Lee, a University of Hong Kong student, said she kept buying umbrellas because she was always misplacing them at home. “One day I just realised I had a lot of umbrellas,” she said.
A recent Greenpeace survey found Hong Kong to be the most shopaholic and wasteful city by a significant margin when compared to Taiwan, mainland China, Italy and Germany.
In the report, two-thirds of Hong Kong consumers said they had more clothes than they needed, while half owned unworn items that still carried their sales tags. About 43 per cent of Hongkongers also admitted spending more than they could afford on clothes.
The environmental NGO said that though binge shopping could make people feel good, an “emotional hangover” would likely ­result after the spree.
“People start to realise they are trapped in an unsatisfying cycle of cheap, disposable fashion trends and that overconsumption does not lead to lasting happiness,” said Kirsten Brodde, project leader of Greenpeace’s Detox My Fashion campaign.
Additional reporting by Hana Davis


57pc of Hong Kong adults are compulsive hoarders, survey finds

More than 30 per cent of respondents said they owned 11 or more pairs of shoes, while more than 40 per cent said they had six or more backpacks, a survey by Wofoo Social Enterprise said. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Stationery, cosmetics and bracelets are among the most popular items, while about one-third of respondents had 11 or more pairs of shoes
