xii
in the sample did not choose income over all alternatives and more
questions dealing with respondents' preference for other general social
and economic improvements in Hong Kong could perhaps be developed here.
Summarizing the survey findings so far it appears that the respondents
wanted from (or in) their jobs a good income, a high level of security,
good working conditions, good welfare benefits and a just employer; the
most important of these was a good income. The workers in the sample
felt moderately satisfied on these points by their present jobs. They
felt that any improvements should come about through joint consultation
although there was some variability within the group here. The
respondents would prefer an increase in income to improvements in such
firm-specific factors as welfare benefits, working conditions, hours and
rest days but when it came to factors on a more general level such as
the problem of job security in Hong Kong and the provision of social
services, they preferred improvements in these against higher income.
V
Respondents' Aspirations for Themselves and Their Children
The workers in the sample did not appear to have high aspirations for
themselves. When asked what kind of work they hoped to be doing in 5
years time, a surprisingly large number, 46, wanted to keep their present
job. A further 32 chose jobs that would involve sideways moves in the
hierarchy of job prestige and 11 gave answers such as retired, housewife
or don't know. Only 20 indicated that they would like a better job of
some kind; of these, 5 wanted to start their own businesses, 5 had
aspirations for technologist, professional or managerial type jobs. The rest either wanted lower white collar/technician level jobs, foreman
level jobs or a better grade of manual work.
There were, however,
substantial differences between the sub-groups here. Thus those willing
to keep their present jobs accounted for 61% of the older men and 78% of
the older women compared to 22% of the younger men and 44% of the younger
Those wishing to keep their present jobs also accounted for
70% of those employed in large firms compared to 22% of those employed
in small firms.
women.
The respondents' reply to a further specific question on desire to start
up in business on their own account confirms the previous finding. In
fact, just under a third had considered this. There were again, however,
substantial differences between the sub groups within sample. 61% of
the younger men nursed this ambition compared to 35% of the older men,
22% of the younger women and none of the older women. There was also