Measuring community happiness in Hong Kong : Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai

Abstract

There are 18 Districts in Hong Kong and studies through subjective assessment have found that there is deviation in the level of happiness across Districts. In particularly, Sham Shui Po, in Kowloon, and Tin Shui Wai, part of Yuen Long District in the New Territories, are being labelled as City of Sadness. This research is consisted of two parts, quantitative approach - Objective measures and quantitative approach – Questionnaire, to analyze the causes of Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai being labelled as City of Sadness objectively and subjectively and to explore whether there is any difference on the thought of City of Sadness between people living in or outside the districts. For part 1 of quantitative approach – objective measures, based on data from 2016 Population By-census and other secondary data, potential variables were identified, and correlation and regression analysis were conducted. It is found that there are characteristics affecting the level of sadness, causing Sham Shui Po District and Tin Shui Wai being labelled as City of Sadness, but in general, there are not significant factors that can be generalized as the cause of labelling. If restricting the study area down to Sham Shui Po Region, though, the concentration of population with higher education level as well as low-income families are found significant. For part 2 of quantitative approach – questionnaire, similar to the results in part 1, it is found that some characteristics in Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai cause respondents agreeing these two areas as City of Sadness, but it is not conclusive as only a third of respondents in general agreed the statement. It is also identified that there is different point of views on the neighbourhoods, particularly for the aspect of Tin Shui Wai, between insiders and outsiders. Undoubtedly, there are problems in Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai with people in need of assistance, but the findings confirmed Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai to be labelled as City of Sadness is controversial. Therefore, it should always bear in mind that if assistances not promptly and precisely, anywhere in Hong Kong can be a City of Sadness.