http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1131222/singapore-hong-kong-face-happiness-deficit
But the two sides are locked in a new battle - perhaps a surprising twist in this ago-old contest - and it indicates that the two have rather more in common than they would care to admit.
Despite their wealth - Singapore and Hong Kong rank third and seventh on per capita GDP according to the World Bank - the two cities are among the least happy territories in the world, according to a Gallup poll released last month.
Singapore is way ahead in the race to be Asia's most miserable place, ranking rock bottom in the poll of 148 nations and territories, with just 46 per cent of those polled expressing positive feelings. Hong Kong came in 73rd, with 69 per cent of respondents expressing "happiness".
Panama and Paraguay topped the poll, with 85 per cent of the respondents reporting positive emotions.
Alan Lo Tzee-cheng, 45, a teacher at the International College Hong Kong who moved to the city from Australia four years ago, said people were too focused on achieving material success, which made them unhappy.
As a result, the people in Hong Kong and Singapore find themselves constantly buried in an avalanche of work, leaving them emotionally insecure and fragile.
Singaporeans have one of the worst work-life balances in the world, as they work some of the longest hours globally, explained Yeoh Lam Keong, vice-president of the Economic Society of Singapore, a non-profit organisation of economists. "They are overstressed and do not have enough time for family and recreation."
Wealth does not necessarily guarantee a good quality of life. The average living space in Hong Kong is only 12 square metres per person - one of the smallest in the world. Singapore ranks much better at 25 square metres per person. However, despite its reputation for having world-class public housing, education and health care, these are becoming increasingly unaffordable for a significant segment of Singaporean society, according to Yeoh.
Overcrowding and wage stagnation due to immigration have generated huge negative social challenges for low and middle-income Singaporeans, Yeoh added. "Income inequality has risen to high levels. Most studies show high income inequality leads to poor social well-being, reducing social mobility."
Jacqueline Tong Tze-ling, 24, an engineering consultant for an international firm who was raised in Canada and lives in Hong Kong, says Hongkongers are too intense and competitive.
"People make their kids grow up too fast here. They don't get time to explore and enjoy the things they want to do … basically people trade their health in order to gain wealth in Hong Kong. That's the norm. That's ridiculous. When I was in preschool [in Vancouver], I was happy and blowing bubbles," she said."
Measuring happiness - Hong Kong vs Singapore
| Hong Kong | Singapore |
| Population: 7,153,519 Per capita GDP: US$50,551 Nicknames: Asia's World City, The Big Lychee Reasons to be cheerful: Spectacular views of mountains and the harbour, impeccable public transport, ultra-low taxes Reasons to be gloomy: Pollution, overcrowding, astronomical property prices |
Population: 5,353,494 Per capita GDP: US$60,688 Nicknames: The Lion City, Disneyland with the Death Penalty Reasons to be cheerful: Obsessive cleanliness, year-round warm weather, mix of cultures and cuisines Reasons to be gloomy: Limited political freedom, corporal and capital punishment, large-scale immigration |
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