Hong Kong (AsiaNews/SCMP) The majority of businessmen in Hong Kong are for a five-day working week. This was the outcome of a survey undertaken in July among a sample of around 300 managers and businessmen with a monthly income of more than 40,000 Hong Kong dollars.
A total of 86% agreed with a five-day week for the private sector and 59% for government workers too. The city is famous for its high tempo of working hours. But 43% of respondents believed a "shorter" week would have no impact on the competitiveness of commerce, while 19% thought it would actually boost competitiveness. Only 36% believed the move would result in a drop in production. The majority believed there would be no problems to reorganize production and 23% are already planning to structure their work timetable over five days.
James Shung Lap-kung, a professor of City University, said the government recently implemented a five-day work week in many public offices and this had confused people, which was why 40% feared a loss of efficiency in the public sector.
The president of the Open University, John Leong Chi-yen, said he believed a five-day working week would lead to a higher demand for part-time study courses
A total of 73% of those interviewed in the survey predicted "positive" consequences for consumerism when there will be more time for leisure and shopping time, especially with weekend travel (61%) and more use of web services (43%). Meanwhile, 80% said they believed people would spend more time with their families and 55% said it may lead to a "more relaxed" lifestyle. Meanwhile, 12% speculated that the move would lead to "more laziness".
And 71% of respondents said security forces like the police should be excluded from the benefit of shorter hours. As from 1 July, the shorter working week was introduced for 73,500 family domestics too.
