144
rearranged in two ways. We can assess the consistency of choices across the four areas of concern. In Table 2, it is shown that there are no significant variations across these areas except on the topic of community participation. The same deviation occurs in Nichols' findings. Only 22 percent of his sample chose the long term interest item on community participation, (1969; 179). One of my respondents, A17, provided the explanation for this anomaly. He considered the item in question and said,
'Certain people are eloquent and can give a powerful speech without much preparation. I am not. Not that I am unwilling to do it, I can't do it.'
Table 1: Attitudes Toward Social Responsibility Among Hong Kong Cotton Spinners and British Industrialists
Hong Kong Spinners British Industrialists No. of choices Percentage No. of choices Percentage Ideological Set Laissez-faire 22 16 27 10 Long range interest 78 57 149 57 Social responsibility 37 27 84 32 No answer 3 140* 100 260 100**Notes:
* Five of the respondents had not answered this section. Thus the total number of choices are those of 35 respondents only.
** Not exactly 100 due to rounding.
Source: Interviews, 1978; Nichols 1969: 169.
Table 2: Ideological Preferences of Hong Kong Cotton Spinners by Areas of Concern (%)
Ideological Set Redundancy Purpose Community Politics Laissez-faire 9 6 35 9 Interest 77 60 15 75 Responsibility 14 34 50 16 TOTAL 100 100 100 100Source: Interviews, 1978.