Hong Kong 2025

Not Lazy, Just Tired

Why Hong Kong's Gen Z Are Rethinking Work—Between Lying Flat and Climbing the Corporate Ladder

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Video: Hong Kong Aerial Sequence

Victoria Harbour → Central → Sham Shui Po

Between Two Worlds

In the glass towers of Central, young professionals work past midnight, their screens glowing like lonely stars. Across the harbour in co-working spaces and cramped apartments, their peers have chosen a different path—one of flexibility, freelance gigs, and reclaimed time.

Hong Kong's Gen Z finds itself caught between two powerful currents. On one side, the gravitational pull of traditional corporate culture, with its promise of stability and upward mobility. On the other, the rising tide of alternative work philosophies that have swept across Greater China—from the brutal "996" schedules to the quiet rebellion of "lying flat."

But here in Hong Kong, "lying flat" takes on a different meaning. When even declining a promotion can determine whether you qualify for public housing—when the average wait for a government flat stretches beyond five years—opting out of the rat race isn't always a lifestyle choice. Sometimes, it's arithmetic.

46.6
Average weekly working hours in Hong Kong
92%
of Hong Kongers report daily stress
52%
of Gen Z engage in freelance work
5.3
years average wait for public housing

The Hong Kong Equation

To understand why Hong Kong's young people are rethinking work, you first have to understand the impossible math they face every day. It's not about laziness or entitlement—it's about a city where the rules of success have fundamentally changed, while the expectations have not.

Hong Kong has been ranked the world's least affordable housing market for over a decade. The median home price sits at 16.7 times the median annual household income—meaning a young graduate earning HK$20,000 per month would need to save every cent for nearly 17 years to afford a modest flat. And that's before food, transport, or any semblance of a life.

The Lying Flat Paradox

A 2024 survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Public Housing Estates found that 30.5% of respondents aged 18-40 would deliberately decline promotions and salary increases—choosing to "lie flat"—specifically to remain eligible for public housing. When 85% of respondents say unaffordable private housing is driving this phenomenon, it's clear: for many young Hong Kongers, ambition has become a liability.

The result is a generation making calculations their parents never had to. Work harder, earn more, and price yourself out of the only housing you might actually afford. Or work less, earn less, and wait five years for a government flat while living in a subdivided room the size of a parking space.

Over 220,000 Hong Kong residents—including 50,000 young people—currently live in subdivided flats, cage homes, and coffin cubicles. These are spaces as small as 30 square feet, often with shared bathrooms and no windows. The median living space per person in these units is smaller than a prison cell.

The Housing Squeeze: Price-to-Income Ratio by City

Hong Kong
16.7x
16.7x
Sydney
13.0x
Vancouver
11.7x
London
8.3x
New York
7.1x
Singapore
5.5x

Price-to-income ratio = Median home price ÷ Median annual household income. Source: Demographia 2024

5.3
Years average wait for public housing
100
Sq ft average subdivided flat (for a family)
$5,500
HKD monthly rent for subdivided unit
220K+
People in inadequate housing

These numbers tell part of the story. But statistics can't capture what it feels like to be twenty-something in Hong Kong today—to wake up every morning knowing that the path your parents took is no longer available to you, and that the new paths are unmarked and uncertain.

To understand this generation, you have to meet them where they are. We spoke with two young women navigating these impossible choices—one who left the corporate world behind, and one who's still climbing the ladder, rung by exhausting rung.

Profile One

The Freelancer

Content Creator and "Slasher" / 26 years old / Sai Ying Pun

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Portrait: The Freelancer

Content Creator, 26, Sai Ying Pun

Why She Left the Corporate World

She is part of Hong Kong's growing community of "slashers"—people who tap their diverse interests and areas of expertise to earn a living by doing multiple jobs simultaneously. The term comes from the slashes in their job descriptions: content creator / photographer / social media consultant / workshop instructor.

After two years at a major advertising agency in Wan Chai, working 10 to 12 hour days with no overtime pay, she made a choice that her parents still struggle to understand.

"I was burning out," she explains. "I'd wake up at 6 AM, commute for an hour on the MTR—usually standing because there are never seats during rush hour—work until 9 or 10 PM, and then do it all again. I was earning HK$18,000 a month. Even if I saved half, it would take me decades to afford a flat. So what was I actually working toward?"

"I don't want to be rich. I just want to be free. Free to wake up without an alarm. Free to work on projects I actually care about. Free to have lunch with my mum on a Tuesday. Is that really too much to ask?" — Content Creator, 26, Sai Ying Pun

The "Slasher" Reality

Today, she runs a lifestyle Instagram account with 85,000 followers. She collaborates with local brands, creates content for small businesses, and teaches photography workshops on weekends. Some months she earns more than her agency salary; others, she scrapes by.

According to a Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups study, 51.1% of young workers now engage in flexible employment. But the research also reveals an uncomfortable truth: while 52.4% say flexible work generates more income, only 16.8% do it because they genuinely want career development or better work-life balance. For many, it's survival disguised as choice.

"People think slashers are all Instagram influencers living our best lives," she says. "The reality is most of us are hustling because one full-time job doesn't pay enough to live on. I have a university degree and I still share a flat with two roommates."

A Day in Her Life

9:00 AM
Morning Routine
Wake up naturally—no alarm. Yoga in the living room while roommates are at work. Coffee at a local cha chaan teng while checking emails.
11:00 AM
Content Creation
Shooting photos at home or around the city. Editing in a co-working space in Sheung Wan (HK$80 day pass) or a café if she's being careful with money.
2:00 PM
Client Work
Video calls with brands. Pitching new collaborations. Invoicing—always chasing invoices. "Some companies take 60 days to pay. You learn to budget for that."
6:00 PM
Personal Time
Gym, dinner with friends, or exploring the city for content ideas. Sometimes she takes on restaurant review jobs—"free dinner counts as income, right?"

She pauses, looking out the window of the café where we're meeting. "My parents still ask when I'm going to get a 'real job.' They don't understand that the real jobs don't pay enough to live the life they want for me. At least this way, I'm building something that's mine."

But not everyone is ready to take that leap. For every young Hong Konger who walks away from the corporate ladder, there's another who's still climbing—not because they love the grind, but because the alternative feels even more terrifying.

Profile Two

The Corporate Graduate

Junior Analyst at a Big Four Firm / 24 years old / Tseung Kwan O

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Portrait: The Corporate Graduate

Junior Analyst, 24, Tseung Kwan O

Why She Chose the Traditional Path

Fresh out of university with a degree in accounting, she joined one of Hong Kong's most prestigious firms. The competition was fierce—hundreds of applicants for a handful of positions. Getting in felt like winning the lottery.

"My parents came to Hong Kong from the mainland with nothing," she explains. "They worked factory jobs, saved every cent, made sure I could go to university. The least I can do is build something stable—not throw it away to make TikTok videos."

Her commute from Tseung Kwan O to Central takes 45 minutes each way. She leaves home at 7:30 AM, rarely returns before 9 PM. During busy season—January through April—she's worked weekends for six weeks straight.

"Yes, the hours are brutal. Yes, I'm exhausted. But when I look at the alternative—sharing a subdivided flat with strangers, piecing together gig work, no career trajectory—I'd rather suffer now and build something. At least I know where I stand." — Junior Analyst, 24, Tseung Kwan O

The Mental Health Toll

According to the AXA Mind Health Report 2025, 40% of Hong Kong's Gen Z workers have taken mental health-related leave. Work-related stress affects 60% of workers in the city—higher than the global average of 56%. Among millennials (ages 25-34), 26% report facing unmanageable stress, compared to just 17% globally.

"There's a culture of presenteeism," she admits. "Even when you've finished your work, you don't leave before your seniors. You don't want to be seen as someone who doesn't care. So you stay. You check your emails at midnight because someone might need something. You never really switch off."

Last year, she saw a therapist for the first time—something she hasn't told her parents. "Mental health wasn't something our generation talks about openly. You were supposed to just endure. But I was having panic attacks before client presentations. I couldn't pretend anymore."

A Day in Her Life

7:00 AM
Morning Commute
45-minute MTR ride from Tseung Kwan O to Central. Usually standing—the Admiralty interchange is packed. Uses the time to read emails on her phone.
8:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Work Hours
Meetings, financial reports, client presentations. Lunch at desk most days—instant noodles from the pantry or a HK$50 lunch box. "No one really takes breaks."
9:30 PM
Evening Routine
Commute home, quick dinner (usually takeaway), shower, answer remaining emails. Tries to sleep by midnight but often lies awake thinking about tomorrow's tasks.
Weekends
Recovery Mode
Saturday is for sleeping in and errands. Sunday is "family time"—but she often brings her laptop. "During busy season, weekends don't exist."

"Sometimes I scroll through my university friends' Instagram stories," she says. "They're hiking, traveling, having coffee at 2 PM on a Wednesday. And I think—is that freedom, or is that giving up? Are they happy, or are they just pretending? Honestly, I don't know anymore. Maybe we're all just pretending."

Two young women. Same generation. Same city. Same impossible housing market. Yet they've arrived at radically different answers to the same question: How do you build a life in a place that seems designed to break you?

Two Paths, One Generation

Same city, same pressures, different responses

The Freelancer

Work Hours
Flexible, 30-50 hrs/week (varies)
Monthly Income
HK$15,000-45,000 (unstable)
Work Location
Home, cafés, co-working spaces
Housing
Shared flat with 2 roommates
Primary Value
Autonomy and mental health
Biggest Challenge
Income uncertainty, no benefits
Definition of Success
"Being happy and healthy"
VS

The Corporate Graduate

Work Hours
Fixed, 55-70 hrs/week
Monthly Income
HK$25,000-32,000 (stable)
Work Location
Office in Central/Admiralty
Housing
Lives with parents in TKO
Primary Value
Stability and career growth
Biggest Challenge
Burnout, work-life imbalance
Definition of Success
"Building something meaningful"

Neither of these stories exists in isolation. The choices young Hong Kongers face today are shaped by forces that began brewing years ago—across the border, in the tech campuses of Shenzhen and the factories of the Pearl River Delta. To understand where this generation is headed, we need to understand where this all began.

The Road to Now

How mainland China's work culture shaped Hong Kong's generational shift

2010s
Rise of Chinese Tech Giants
Alibaba, Tencent, and Huawei dominate Asia. Their aggressive work culture—where 72-hour weeks are celebrated as commitment—sets the regional standard. Hong Kong's finance sector follows suit.
March 2019
"996" Enters Public Debate
Jack Ma calls 996 "a blessing," sparking massive backlash. The 996.ICU GitHub protest goes viral. Tech workers connect online to share experiences and demand change. "ICU" references the health consequences of overwork.
April 2021
"Lying Flat" Movement Emerges
Luo Huazhong's post "Lying Flat is Justice" goes viral on Baidu. He describes a minimalist lifestyle: no career ambition, no marriage, no property. Chinese censors scramble to contain the message, but it spreads to Hong Kong.
August 2021
China Supreme Court Rules 996 Illegal
Following deaths of young workers at Pinduoduo and ByteDance, China's top court declares 996 schedules violate labor law. The ruling is largely symbolic—enforcement remains weak—but signals a shift in official rhetoric.
2022
Hong Kong Youth Survey Shocks
The Society for Community Organisation finds 23% of young Hong Kongers from low-income families are "lying flat." Hong Kong's Education Secretary calls the attitude "passive and self-indulgent." Schools add "diligence" to the civic values curriculum.
2024-2025
The "Slasher" Generation
52% of Hong Kong Gen Z now engage in freelance work. 30% would decline promotions to stay eligible for public housing. The city faces a 50,000-worker shortage. Nearly half of secondary students say they are "lying flat" or plan to.

From Shenzhen's tech campuses to Hong Kong's glass towers, a generation has watched the promise of prosperity curdle into a trap. But what do the people who study these trends—and the companies struggling to hire—make of this shift?

Expert Perspectives

What HR professionals and sociologists are seeing on the ground

Expert Interview #1
HR Director
Human Resources, Technology Sector / Hong Kong

"The candidates we're seeing now ask completely different questions. Five years ago, they wanted to know about bonuses and promotion timelines. Now? They ask about mental health days, remote work policies, and whether we expect weekend emails. We've had to completely rethink our value proposition."

"Some of my colleagues see this as entitlement. I see it as evolution. These young people watched their parents sacrifice everything for work—health, relationships, time with family—and what did they get? A tiny flat and a lifetime of stress. They don't want that life. And frankly, if we want to keep talent in Hong Kong rather than losing them to Singapore or abroad, we need to listen."

Expert Interview #2
Academic Researcher
Department of Sociology / University of Hong Kong

"What we're witnessing is a fundamental redefinition of success among Hong Kong's young people. The traditional markers—prestigious job title, property ownership, marriage by 30—are being questioned, if not outright rejected, by a significant portion of this generation."

"The 'lying flat' philosophy from mainland China resonates here because Hong Kong shares similar pressures: sky-high property prices, intense competition, a work culture that glorifies sacrifice. But there's a Hong Kong-specific dimension—the housing trap. When the reward of hard work becomes mathematically unattainable, the rational response for many is to stop playing the game. This isn't laziness. This is a generation doing cost-benefit analysis."

The Numbers Tell a Story

Key statistics on Hong Kong's changing work landscape

46.6
Average hours worked per week
Source: Jobsdb 2024 Salary Report
87%
Workers report work-related stress
Source: Mental Health Association of HK
63%
Consider leaving job within a year
Source: Aon Human Capital Study 2025

Top Factors Hong Kong Gen Z Consider When Choosing Employers

Work-Life Balance
8.26
Salary & Benefits
8.0
Flexible Hours
7.8
Job Stability
7.5
Career Growth
7.2
Values Alignment
6.8

Scale: 1-10 importance rating. Data: MWYO Youth Survey 2024, Edelman Gen Z Hong Kong 2024

Average Weekly Working Hours by Industry in Hong Kong

Food & Beverage
54.8
Hospitality
50.2
Finance (Busy)
50+
HK Average
46.6
ILO Recommended
40

Hours per week. Source: Census and Statistics Department HKSAR, Jobsdb 2024

What Does This Mean for Hong Kong?

Two young women. Same generation. Same city. Radically different choices.

The freelancer and the corporate graduate represent more than individual preferences—they embody a generational crossroads. Hong Kong, long defined by its relentless work ethic and aspirational climb, is watching its youngest workers question the very foundations of that identity.

But perhaps the most striking finding isn't the difference between them. It's what they share: a quiet exhaustion. A sense that the promises made to their generation—work hard and you'll prosper—no longer hold true. The freelancer is tired of being told her choices are irresponsible. The corporate graduate is tired of pretending she's fine. Both are tired of a system that seems designed for a Hong Kong that no longer exists.

"Perhaps the future isn't about choosing between lying flat and burning out. Perhaps it's about building something new—a culture that values both ambition and wellbeing, achievement and rest. A Hong Kong where success doesn't require sacrificing everything else."

Whether Hong Kong's future leans toward flexibility, stability, or some hybrid model remains uncertain. What's clear is that the conversation has changed. A generation raised on the promise that hard work guarantees success is now asking: success at what cost? And for whose benefit?

The city that never sleeps may finally be learning to rest. Or at least, to ask why it can't.

Your Turn

If you were starting your career in Hong Kong today, which path would you take?