Nearly 1 in 4 young Hongkongers from low-income families ‘lying flat’, while some feel hopeless about future, survey shows
- Findings show 23 per cent of 100 young people polled have taken to lying flat, but three in five respondents do not want to do so and some say working hard can bring hope
- City’s housing crisis, scarce job opportunities and limited chances for upward mobility among reasons cited for young Hongkongers lying flat
Nearly one in four young Hongkongers from low-income families have taken to “lying flat”, or doing the bare minimum to get by, with some saying they feel hopeless about the future, a survey has found.
The poll, conducted by the Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) from February to May, found 23 per cent of 100 young Hongkongers interviewed opted to lie flat, a phenomenon that swept mainland China last year in which young people reject the rat race and hard work, preferring to earn only enough for their basic needs.
The findings, released on Sunday, showed that the reasons for young Hongkongers to lie flat included choosing to do so of their own accord, being satisfied with the status quo, adapting to the social environment, and having no hope for the future.
The interviewees, aged between 15 and 25, came from low-income families.
University student Kacey Choi, 21, said she had no other option but to lie flat given the city’s soaring home prices. Choi, who lives in public rental housing with her family, said she worked during her free time to help support the household, but still could not save up enough to buy a home or rent a place.
“Young people like me are forced to accept the reality,” she said. “I feel helpless about the future. I can only resort to lying flat.”
However, nearly three in five respondents said they would not lie flat, with some adding that striving for improvement and working hard could bring hope. Others said the unwillingness to make progress would take a toll on a person’s mental state, while bowing to the reality and being indolent would hamper the city’s social and economic development.
“Although the public has assumed that many young people chose to lie flat, many from low-income families are actually working hard,” said Sze Lai-shan, SoCO’s deputy director.
