Lift-button batterers let off steam

THIS wasn't in Chris Patten's address to the territory yesterday, but Hong Kong is now the most stressful place in the world (pause for a relaxing cup of tea).

Okay, to continue. This information came our way via Ray White, boss of Otis Elevators. His firm has just researched people's habits vis-a-vis pressing the lift button.

In London people press it a second time after a measured 30 seconds, in Tokyo it's 25 seconds and in stress city New York they start fretting after 17 seconds and reach for the button again.

But Hong Kong wins hands down. Here we start getting irritable with the elevator within three to five seconds of stabbing the button the first time.

Incidentally, did you know that Otis carry more passengers each day than the MTR? Chew over that one while waiting for the lift.