XN000022-1975-07-01 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1975

MORE H.K. MARRIAGES END UP ON THE ROCKS

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RAPIDLY CHANGING SOCIAL VALUES ARE PRODUCING AN EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF BROKEN MARRIAGES AND SUBSEQUENTLY A MUCH HEAVIER CASELOAD FOR THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

MANY MARITAL DISPUTES END IN DIVORCES, AS INDICATED BY THE FAST RISING DIVORCE. RATE DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS. DURING THE 1974/75 FINANCIAL YEAR, A TOTAL OF 959 CASES WERE FILED FOR DIVORCE, AN INCREASE OF 125 OR ABOUT 15 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURE.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE DISPUTES NEVER WENT INTO THE DIVORCE RECORDS BECAUSE AMICABLE SETTLEMENTS WERE REACHED AFTER PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE BY WELFARE OFFICERS OF THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION.

MR. ALEXANDER FUNG, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER OF THE DIVISION, SAID TODAY THAT THE MAIN CAUSE OF MARITAL DISPUTES IS STILL FINANCIAL.

*BUT NEW AREAS OF CONFLICT, MUCH UNNOTICED PREVIOUSLY IN HONG KONG, HAVE BEEN EMERGING RECENTLY AND THE MOST OUVIOUS OF THESE IS WHAT WE TERM AS 'ROLE AMBIGUITY'.

+THE WOMAN IN A FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT COUPLE, WHICH IS THE RULE RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION AMONG YOUNG COUPLES THESE DAYS, MAY MAKE OUT BETTER THAN THE MAN, HE SAID. +IN EXTREME CASES, THE WOMAN MAY COMPLETELY TAKE OVER THE ROLE OF THE BREAD WINNÉR WHILE THE MAN IS LEFT WITH THE DAILY HOUSEHOLD CHORES.+

+THIS MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS CONFLICTS BETWEEN THE MAN'S SENSE OF PRIDE AND POSSESSIVENESS AND THE EMANCIPATED WOMAN'S SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM,+ SAID MR. FUNG.

ANOTHER NEW CAUSE OF A NUMBER OF MARITAL DISPUTES AND

DIVORCES, HE ADDED, WAS PRE-MARITAL SEXUAL FREEDOM.

+QUITE A NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FORCED INTO EARLY MARRIAGES BY UNEXPECTED PRENANCIES BEFORE THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. SUCH MARRIAGES, WITH WEAK FOUNDATION AND BASED ON OBLIGATION RATHER THAN LOVE, ARE MORE LIABLE TO GO ON THE ROCKS.

+OTHER COMMON CAUSES OF DISPUTES ARE ADULTERY, PERSONALITY CONFLICTS, IN-LAW PROBLEMS, BAD HABITS SUCH AS DRINKING, GAMBLING OR DRUGS AND DESERTION,+ SAID MR. FUNG.

THE INCREASING NUMBER OF MARITAL DISPUTES BEING BROUGHT BEFORE THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION HAS ENCOURAGED RATHER THAN DAUNTED MR. FUNG AND HIS STAFF.

/+PARADOXICALLY