Locals' CNY 'red envelopes' most generous in Asia: survey
CNASINGAPORE--Taiwanese were the most generous among ethnic Chinese communities in Asia in handing out “red envelopes” during the Lunar New Year, a survey conducted by market researcher TNS has found.
February 20, 2013, 12:02 am TWN
Singapore media, including Lianhe Zaobao and My Paper, reported on the survey conducted by TNS, which interviewed a total of 5,000 people in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan last month on their Lunar New Year plans.
Taiwanese respondents budgeted the most for red envelopes during the Lunar New Year, setting aside an average of NT$28,868 (US$975),the survey found.
This compares with SG$1,133 (US$915) averaged by respondents from Singapore, 3,668 yuan (US$587) in China, HK$4,474 (US$577) in Hong Kong and 1,555 Ringgit (US$502) in Malaysia.
When asked how they would distribute the cash gifts among family members, relatives, friends, colleagues and employees during the Lunar New Year, Taiwanese were the most generous to their family members, giving them an average of NT$20,050 (US$678) in red envelopes.
Respondents in the other four economies gave family members an average of between US$166 in Singapore to US$212 in China.
Taiwanese also budgeted the most for red envelopes to relatives, averaging NT$4,715 (US$160).
But the cash gifts Taiwanese planned to give to friends, colleagues and employees were smaller than in other areas surveyed, registering NT$474, NT$236 and NT$525, respectively.