Hong Kong counts as one of the world's most saturated markets for portable electronic communication devices, with more iPhones and the like in operation here than we have citizens. Indeed, it is not uncommon to come across an individual sporting two or even three of them at the same time.

It may nowadays be regarded as an obsession, so prevalent and continual is the use of such gadgetry, especially by our younger citizens. Their ubiquity has become commonplace here, meaning that social behavior has changed to include them. But, convenient - even entertaining - as that may be, their omnipresence can prove to be a nuisance to others.

I am often bemused to see people struggling with shopping bags and opening umbrellas, with a lively dog pulling on a leash, all the while carrying on an animated conversation using an iPhone. Isn't that carrying multi-tasking too far? No wonder that it's now illegal to drive and to manipulate an iPhone at the same time.

Because of the nature of these gadgets, people near the user can hear everything that is said. That often highlights the very banality of many of these supposedly "can't wait" interactions, with "I'm waiting for a bus" as an example of a recently-overheard message that could surely barely interest anyone else.

At a speaker luncheon held here recently in Hong Kong, both the speaker and I were appalled to observe that almost every other person in the room - including the waiters and even the organizers of the function - were blatantly using their iPhones while the speech was being delivered. The speaker later rightly complained about being so publicly snubbed by an audience who shouldn't be there if they are not interested in the listed proceedings of the event. It is a true, but sad commentary of the times. I tried my best to commiserate with her later over such an overt display of discourtesy that occurs all too often.

But the most intrusive and inappropriate use of hand-held communication devices comes during what in earlier times was regarded as a social occasion, when conversation was expected. I refer to the prolonged use of such devices at lunch or dinner tables.

In this season of office Christmas lunches and family gatherings, the question must be asked how many of the attendees are genuinely engaged in such gatherings, though they may be physically present?

The extraordinary, but now very common, practice of taking pictures of the food as every dish arrives at the table raises two queries. How many people would really be interested in seeing a picture of some commonplace restaurant food? Even more intriguing is that the photographer would not then turn his camera on the guests, as though they are less important than the food. What strange priorities!

A recent incident dramatizes how some people's lives revolve around their mobile phone. A young couple enters a restaurant, both talking incessantly on their respective iPhones. The restaurant manager barely manages to distract them long enough to get them seated, while the waitress struggles to take their orders. This amusing little scene continues throughout their meal because in theory they had lunch together but their interest was completely elsewhere. In other words, the couple was both entertaining their respective uninvited guests through their iPhones. It makes you wonder why they bother to have a date! They might as well be eating alone. They clearly do not appreciate the opportunity for some personal exchanges.

It seems that the use of an iPhone is no longer dictated by necessity for some, but by addiction. No bank or bus queue, presentation, business meeting, meal, walk or cinema visit seems to be complete without the constant use of these devices. A poet's fitting observation comes to mind, "What is this World if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?"

At a recent wedding reception here, so many of the other guests - seated at circular tables to facilitate conversation - were in fact fully engaged in texting, emailing and the like that there was an unexpected hush in the huge hall, even though it was full of people. It was sad and perplexing to see so little lively human interaction during what is supposed to be a happy social occasion. Many clearly prefer conversing through an inanimate object than directly with another person they know and sitting in front of them!

Not surprisingly, some of the more exclusive private clubs in Hong Kong have wisely banned the use of iPhones on their premises. But it's depressing to see how so many now prefer the company of an electronic device over their fellow human beings, and that rules have to be brought into place to ensure polite conduct in a social setting.

The author is a Hong Kong-based commentator and university lecturer.

(HK Edition 01/05/2015 page1)