Changing generation expectations and public policy

Abstract

In Chinese society, the family plays a crucial role. Greater awareness about the values of the family members can help policy makers to build a harmonious society and create a pleasant life for families. Traditionally, Chinese parents will care for their children and help them to make decisions, for example considering what kind of schooling is most suitable for their children, what kind of extra-curricular activities would be best for them, and so on. Moreover, these ways of ―taking care‖ tend to continue even after the children have passed their 18th birthday. This ―taking care‖ attitude results in a heavy financial burden for parents. One side effect of this is that the local birth rate in Hong Kong continues to decrease, giving rise to concern about the population aging issue. But in fact, the parents and children live and are formed in different circumstances and. times. Their own past experience will influence the parents in their present decision-making and, in turn, their hopes for their children. But nowadays, children are living in a changing world. It is doubtful that the experience and perceptions of the parents about what is best for their children are still appropriate for their children especially as they grow up. Young people may want to escape from such ―taking care‖ as they become adults. One observation in Hong Kong is that there is a dramatic increase in single young people applying for public housing. Therefore, a better understanding of the expectations of the family members is important for public policy planning. During February and March 2011, 426 families in Hong Kong completed a survey about the expectations of parents about their children and the expectations of the children themselves. The parents were mostly aged between 40 and 64, and the children were mostly aged between 18 and 24. The questionnaire covered mainly the requirements concerning the education level, the choice of career and the expected salary, the time during which parents should spend money on their children, and attitudes to marital problems and childbearing.