Hong Kong's top earners like nothing better after work than to relax with a good ... gossip magazine.
That is the conclusion of a sociologist who studied the city's reading habits.
And the remarks by Li Pang-kwong, on the eve of the annual Hong Kong Book Fair, struck a chord with exhibitors who said Hongkongers were not great book-buyers, especially of fiction.
The study, by Lingnan University, found about half of 1,007 respondents read 'infotainment' magazines.
Professor Li , of the university's politics and sociology department, said a large number of these were well-educated and earned more than $30,000 a month.
They spent on average about $100 a month on magazines, and devoted nearly three hours to reading each publication.
'Hong Kong is a very busy city, and their hectic lifestyle makes people feel very stressed. Reading magazines can help them loosen up,' Professor Li said.
