To flourish, Hong Kong needs higher priorities than wealth accumulation
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Are Hong Kong residents really flourishing?
Flourishing is 'a state of affairs in which all aspects of your life are relatively good', according to the scientists behind the recent Global Flourishing Study ('Indonesia is the world's 'most-flourishing' country. What does that mean?',
May 10 ). This five-year study of 207,000 people in 23 countries and territories found Hong Kong doing well on financial stability but ranking lower overall, which presents the question: has the city paid a human price for economic progress?
The results of the study challenge the simplistic equating of gross domestic product with flourishing and highlight the significance of the less tangible dimensions of life: happiness, mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, as well as close social bonds.
Two Asian neighbours, Indonesia and the Philippines, provide a contrast to Hong Kong. These economies are less advanced, but have higher levels of human flourishing, rooted in their strong communal values and ties to their heritage. Behaviours like Indonesia's gotong royong (mutual assistance) and the Philippines' bayanihan (communal unity) are noteworthy.
India, with far lower per capita income, also has a higher overall flourishing score than Hong Kong.
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