Hong Kong people believe littering and spitting are our most serious civic problems, a Home Affairs Bureau survey has revealed.

The Bureau interviewed 1,604 people by telephone in January, and respondents were asked which of five selected situations needed to be addressed.

They were: Littering or spitting; smoking in non-smoking areas; impoliteness; vying when boarding and alighting public transport; and, talking loudly on phones in public.

The survey found that 36% of respondents felt littering and spitting was the most pressing civic problem, while 29% chose smoking in non-smoking areas.

Sixteen per cent felt Hong Kong people were impolite while 9% thought vying for public transport was the most serious problem.

Only 4% considered talking loudly on the phone as the top civic problem.