Too close for comfort: what impact will the coronavirus have on social interaction in Hong Kong?
- Hongkongers used to living and socialising at close quarters find their routines disrupted by the Covid-19 crisis
- With hotpots, mahjong and karaoke sidelined, how could Hong Kong’s social life evolve in the longer run?
Anybody living in Hong Kong can tell you straight up that it is not a place for people with claustrophobia. Not only is it one of the most densely populated cities in the world — boasting nearly 6,700 people per square kilometre – but most locals have little concept of personal space.
Those who have taken public transport such as buses and the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) would have experienced some level of anxiety as they are jam-packed like sardines in compartments and carriages during morning and evening rush hours.
But the lack of space doesn’t seem to bother most Hongkongers, since they are used to it both at home and in public. Most other people would suffer from anxiety brought on by the fear of losing control when their personal space is being invaded, but not Hongkongers.
Hong Kong people are not shy about “inviting” themselves into other people’s spaces, both physical and non-physical. For example, they don’t care about pushing themselves against you in the tight space of an elevator or engaging in (what most would consider to be unnecessarily) loud mobile phone conversations.
The concept of personal space means a different thing here, even if it sometimes seems entirely non-existent. People are often quite generous about “sharing” other people’s space without permission.