Hong Kong's free huggers spread the love

HONG KONG, Oct 8 (Reuters Life!) - City life getting you down? A group of Hong Kong youths is giving away hugs to help isolated urbanites feel more human.

The Hong Kong "free huggers" are part of a global "Free Hugs Campaign", a phenomenon spread by the Internet and publicized through a 2006 music video -- a hit on video-sharing Web site YouTube -- that showed a Sydney man hugging total strangers.

"In a busy city like Hong Kong, people don't hug anymore. Actually, hugging is a very warm, comfortable feeling," said Shum Yam Lam, one of the organizers of the "Free Hugs" movement.

"People should care about each other."

Brandishing placards reading "Free Hugs" in English and Chinese, Hong Kong youths are accosting passers-by in a bustling city where, according to a recent survey, employees' working hours are on average a quarter longer than the maximum set by the International Labour Organisation.

Bemused passers-by accepted hugs. Some youngsters even embraced a policeman who came to see what the fuss was about.

"I feel very warm, very happy," said Anna Yiu, a surprise beneficiary of the group's largesse while strolling down the street.

The Hong Kong free-huggers say many people they approached balked at the idea of being touched by a stranger, a reaction they said was typical of emotionally reserved Asians.

But the group is determined to spread the love.

"In Chinese society, we feel that men and women should keep a distance, so this kind of action makes people think you are trying to assault the opposite sex," said hugs organizer Brandy Yuen. "This is what we're trying to change, but I know it's not that simple to do."