Wellness through Leisure for Hong Kong - Research Paper Example

Leisure, just like any other aspect of society, is a rudimentary right. It is the same the rights that are based on gender, colour, descent, religion, and economic status among others. Civilizations are complicated and interconnected, and cannot be detached from other existential objectives. In order to touch a physical, social, spiritual, and mental happiness and security, every person must be able to elaborate their personal goals and objectives, fulfil needs and interrelate optimistically within the society (1).

Hence, leisure is regarded as means for enhancing the quality of living (Mannell 3). As a matter of fact, leisure has always been identified to have a crucial role in the quality of life and living satisfaction among older individuals (3). The quality of life for a certain civilization or community is oftentimes identified by looking at the various markers that include income category, health behaviours, the quality of the environment, and the degree at which crime, negative family outcomes, and the breakdown of social reinforcement (Mannell 2).

So, this paper shall elaborate on the relationship of wellness and leisure for Hong Kong. The Census and Statistics Department (1) revealed Hong Kong’s population to be at 7.07 million by the middle of 2010. This number represents the 6.86 million Usual Residents and 0.21 Mobile Residents. From 2006 – 2010, the region obtained a population growth percentage of 0.8%. For the longest time, Hong Kong is widely known to be one of the most densely populated places in the world. In a report produced by the Census and Statistics Department (1), the land population density of Hong Kong as of mid-2010 was estimated to be at 6, 540 persons in every one square kilometre.

Kwun Tung was the most densely populated area in the region with 54, 530 persons per square kilometre. These numbers unveils the social and environmental conditions in Hong Kong, which could be an important factor for wellness in Hong Kong. Hong Kong offers different kinds of leisure for all ages, ranging from indoor facilities such as museums, indoor sports amenities, aerobics, and other sports and recreational programs, to outdoor recreational facilities like amusement parks i.e. Disneyland, Victoria Park and Ocean Park, trails and campgrounds (LCSD, “Indoor Leisure and Cultural Activities for Families”).

In the field of arts, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a leading arts event that offers a five-week long cultural festival featuring Hong Kong’s rich and diverse culture. Hong Kong is also a favourite venue for some of the world’s biggest sports league such as the WTA and the FIVB (“Indoor Leisure and Cultural Activities for Families”). Hong Kong likewise features the Hong Kong Film Festival that was established to absorb, support, and feature the different works of art of artists from all over the world (“Indoor Leisure and Cultural Activities for Families”).

Hong Kong’s leisure activities are greatly influenced by the colonizing powers that occupied the region for so many years. The British occupation of Hong Kong gave birth to the globalization of its cultural ascriptions, which contradicts to the formerly old-fashioned cultural traditions of the People’s Republic of China. As a global city, Hong Kong represents a melting pot of races ranging from Chinese to Japanese, from Filipinos to Indonesians, and so many others. Hong Kong’s global politics, economics, and sociology have greatly impacted the leisure activities available in the region.

For instance, the Hong Kong