Hong Kong’s economic rise doesn’t reflect stagnant quality of life, study shows
Think tank calls for government action to improve Hongkongers’ well-being
Fifteen years of economic growth in Hong Kong has failed to improve people’s well-being, according to a recent study from one of the city’s leading policy think-tanks.
The Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre’s first well-being index showed Hongkongers’ well-being was almost stagnant between 2000 and 2015, rising by just 0.4 per cent despite GDP per capita increasing by almost 60 per cent.
During a press conference at the centre’s Wan Chai office, one researcher said the result showed economic growth had failed to improve people’s living quality.
The centre urged the government to set up an office to focus on well-being-based policymaking and to study specific topics related to improving the quality of life.
The government only needs to do more to improve housing, transport and family to improve people’s overall well-being
The Bauhinia Well-Being Index collated averages from 11 different subindexes, including income and income redistribution, housing, jobs, health, safety, education, environment, recreation, family, governance and civil society, and transport.