From Saving to Consuming

Chinese people have the good tradition of saving money. Even before the Second World War, local banks tried to attract new savings account customers by giving out fashionably designed piggy banks in which children were encouraged by their parents to save their pocket money. In the 1980s, however, Hong Kong’s dynamic social and economic development brought with it significant increases in personal income and consumer prices, which in turn triggered a rise in consumption. In response, banks began to introduce various kinds of debit and credit cards. New social values emerged, credit cards became more and more common and personal loan services also gained increasing acceptance, pushing Hong Kong into the credit card age. The 1990s witnessed our embrace of the electronic money which has turned Hong Kong into one of the most successful cities at its implementation. The drop in public demand for paper money and coins indicates that Hong Kong’s currency is moving from tangible to intangible forms, with the definition of money gaining a new meaning.