Family Norms in a Rapidly Industrializing Society: Hong Kong

Abstract

A sample of 1123 young people in Hong Kong were interviewed and responded to a number ofstatements concerning family norms. The data suggest that with regard to relationships between husband and wife, and parents and children, views are more consonant with the norms of the Western conjugal family than the traditional Chinese family. A pattern consonant with traditional norms is found concerning relationships with the older generation and a substantial minority support the notion of extended family living. It is argued that the coexistence of some traditional family norms and some norms typical of the conjugalfamily is functional in the Hong Kong context.