So I was reading a local free newspaper, and one of them has a news headline that says "Hong Kong people don't know how to smile" . Hmmm...ok, must be a slow news day. But come to think of it, is there a grain of truth in that?
The news report says that based on a random survey of 878 people, only 7% of people smile 11 times or more per day. According to local pyschologists, HK people seldom express happiness and says Hong Kong people are too serious, realistic and pragmatic and do not know how to "enjoy life".
On a postive note, this survey debunks the materialistic myth of Hong Kongers, by saying most local derive their happiness first and foremost from family, second by love and third by health, with money only coming in the 4th place. However, the survey then immediately contradicts itself by saying what locals are most happy about is getting $6000 (well to be honest, who would'nt? ), follow by the royal wedding () and Tony Chan getting the shaft from the courts .
In truth, I think whether locals smile more or less depends on the setting. In a drink with friends, I have seen locals laugh out loud nonstop, and I have seen random (if rare) public acts of kindness. But at work, what you get is a "forced" smile, as they are "forced" to be polite with their colleagues, even if the truth is they hate each other's guts. I rather they smile less but give me a genuine smile on the right occasion, then those fake smiles you see everyday at the shops.