⚠️ Notice

This post is a draft translation from the Chinese version which have not yet been thoroughly proofread.

It’s said that in foreign countries (especially the Western world, and particularly in older elevators), elevator doors don’t always provide a “close” button.

It’s also said that in some places, the “close” button on elevator doors is just a placebo.

However, in Hong Kong, from what I’ve seen, the “close” button on most elevator doors actually works.

From an engineering perspective, adding a “close” button complicates the entire elevator’s design, so sometimes it’s better to not provide one.

From a cultural perspective, perhaps foreign cultures simply don’t care about making the elevator doors close quicker, they’ll close automatically when the time comes, why are you even rushing!

I have an elevator I use frequently, and its close button seems to be a placebo. As soon as someone enters and presses the floor button, the door starts closing by itself.