Almost 40 per cent of Hong Kong people admit to indulging in unhygienic habits in public, with coughing without covering their mouths the most common.
Despite their bad habits, which also include spitting and nose picking, most people agree the practices are publicly unacceptable and pose a health hazard, according to a survey by Asia Market Intelligence.
Thirty-eight per cent of 1,003 people questioned admitted engaging in at least one unhygienic habit in public, with 22 per cent saying they cough without covering their mouth, 15.2 per cent admitting to picking their nose, 8.7 per cent saying they cut their nails, and 6.1 per cent admitting to spitting.
Spitting in public is now an offence under the new anti-litter law and is subject to a $600 fine. There is no legal sanction against the other bad habits covered by the survey.
Regionally, Hong Kong people were found to be the least likely to spit in public.
Filipinos are the most frequent spitters (26.5 per cent) and nail clippers (27 per cent), while Taiwanese are the most frequent nose pickers (20.5 per cent).
Mainlanders are least likely to engage in the habits, the survey found, with only 21 per cent admitting to any of the bad habits.
