Who's Happy and Who's Not in the World

Are you happy where you are, according to the report?

The World Happiness Report 2024 is out and perhaps no surprise the Nordic countries are at the very top with Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden in the top four spots respectively. Israel is ranked at no. 5, as the surveys were completed before the deadly Hamas attack on October 7 last year.

Australia is at no. 10, and New Zealand close behind, and Canada is at no. 15 (previously 13), the United States at no. 23 (previously 15). It was found people in the US and Canada are happier if they are over 30 years old. The United Kingdom is at no. 20, France no. 27. 

Singapore is at no. 30 behind Kosovo, but before Taiwan at no. 31 which is described as "province of China", and then a block of Asian countries -- Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Vietnam at nos 51 to 54 respectively.

Nordic countries rank the top four happiest in the world

China is ranked a bit further down at no 60, but Hong Kong (SAR of China) is waaay down at no. 86.

The worst? Afghanistan is at the bottom at no. 143, and Zimbabwe is no. 138.

In general women were not as happy as men, but in east Asia, it's the women who are happier than men. The survey found in general people are happier living in countries where the equality of happiness is greater.

In Taiwan, those 30 and younger were happier, while the older generation were less happy. Meanwhile in China, the elderly were happiest enjoying the fruits of their labour, though lower middle class were least happy, perhaps finding it hard to deal with inflation, or housing costs, or not having the means to immigrate.

For Hong Kong, it's the upper middle class who are very happy, the lower middle class not happy. 

Loneliness does affect happiness, and the report says social interactions add to one's happiness, that in turn helps increase social support, and reduce loneliness.

Nevertheless in broad strokes it is promising to see people around the world do care about others. The report has graphs that show people from boomers to Gen X and Millennials are more helpful to strangers, donate more and volunteer more post-pandemic than before 2020.  

Perhaps there is still hope for humanity after all!

Ronson Chan Flies to Oxford, Hui Sentenced in Absentia

Chan is chairman of the largest journalist association in HK

It is a relief to know that Hong Kong Journalists Association chairman Ronson Chan is flying out tonight to the UK to attend a six-month fellowship at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University.

Chan paid a fine related to a traffic charge

Thursday morning Hong Kong time he had to go to court (again) to face a charge of running a red light last year. He was fined HK$2,000.

Outside the court he told reporters he was looking forward to the six-month program as a temporary break from his 18-year career as a journalist in Hong Kong. 

Meanwhile former lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung was sentenced in absentia to 3.5 years in jail for jumping bail in cases stemming from his alleged disruptive behaviour in the Legislative Council and for participating in the 2019 protests.

It is the first time a fugitive was sanctioned in absentia for offences allegedly committed in Hong Kong related to the protests.

Hui and his family have settled in Adelaide

The court found Hui guilty of contempt in June for breaching bail conditions. He had given up his passport but then managed to persuade two judges to give him permission to travel on the pretext of attending climate change meetings in Denmark in November 2020.

It was later revealed that Hui enlisted the help of Danish parliamentarians to draft a fake itinerary and invitation to enable him to leave Hong Kong on what was thought to be official business.

Hui's parents, wife and children left the city soon after he did, and they are now settled in Adelaide, Australia.

The judge ruled in June that Hui had consciously abandoned his right to defend himself, pointing to his Facebook posts where he "continued to display his displeasure or dissatisfaction towards the legal system in Hong Kong" and "proclaimed publicly his disdain for the integrity of this court".

Hui was in Denmark in November 2020

Before the ruling today Hui wrote on his Facebook that he would continue to lobby for Hong Kong at an international level no matter what the sentence was.

"The only objective effect of a severe sentence on me is to exacerbate the deterioration of Hong Kong's rule of law, giving the entire world a glimpse on how the Hong Kong court is content with persecuting residents fighting for freedom and democracy in cahoots with tyranny," he said.