RAS-1981 — Page 128

RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 All AI Reviewed

RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY AND

KINSHIP TIES AMONG

URBAN CHINESE FAMILIES IN HONG KONG

M. K. LEE

Some years ago Robert Mitchell concluded from his survey in Hong Kong that kin relationships had declined in importance compared to other types of relationships. As he stated it, "Hong Kong married couples have more social contacts with co-workers than with many of their own kinsmen. They get out together even more often with their neighbours." F.M. Wong endorsed this position, and argued that sociability among urban Chinese families in Hong Kong is mainly organized around work associates, friends, and neighbours, and that “contacts with kin are least frequent."2

Few noticed that Mitchell's statistics on this issue were faulty. He did not use the same scale to measure frequencies of contact with relatives, with co-workers, and with neighbours. Moreover, even with Mitchell's scales, 45 percent of the men (and 42 percent of the women) in his sample reported that they "never" contacted their neighbours, while only 31 percent of the men (and 41 percent of the women) gave the same reply when asked about contact with co-workers. Indeed, 41 percent of his respondents "never" contacted spouses' aunts and uncles, but only 31 percent "never" contacted their own aunts, and 22 percent their spouses' siblings. On the basis of other research, Podmore and Chaney argued that "relations with close kin are strengthened as the traditional support rendered by the clan has diminished in the urban-industrial society of Hong Kong, where welfare support from government institutions is negligible." And there are good grounds for this opposing point of view,3

Following from Mitchell's study, in 1977, I conducted a survey of a sample of 420 families in Oi Man Estate to find out how closely they related to their kin, in comparison with co-workers and neighbours.* Oi Man, located in East Kowloon, was completed in 1974, and by the

*The research project on which this paper is based was supported by a grant from the Research Committee, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, where Mr. Lee is a Senior Lecturer.

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RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY AND KINSHIP TIES AMONG URBAN CHINESE FAMILIES IN HONG KONG M. K. LEE Some years ago Robert Mitchell concluded from his survey in Hong Kong that kin relationships had declined in importance compared to other types of relationships. As he stated it, "Hong Kong married couples have more social contacts with co-workers than with many of their own kinsmen. They get out together even more often with their neighbours." F.M. Wong endorsed this position, and argued that sociability among urban Chinese families in Hong Kong is mainly organized around work associates, friends, and neighbours, and that “contacts with kin are least frequent."2 Few noticed that Mitchell's statistics on this issue were faulty. He did not use the same scale to measure frequencies of contact with relatives, with co-workers, and with neighbours. Moreover, even with Mitchell's scales, 45 percent of the men (and 42 percent of the women) in his sample reported that they "never" contacted their neighbours, while only 31 percent of the men (and 41 percent of the women) gave the same reply when asked about contact with co-workers. Indeed, 41 percent of his respondents "never" contacted spouses' aunts and uncles, but only 31 percent "never" contacted their own aunts, and 22 percent their spouses' siblings. On the basis of other research, Podmore and Chaney argued that "relations with close kin are strengthened as the traditional support rendered by the clan has diminished in the urban-industrial society of Hong Kong, where welfare support from government institutions is negligible." And there are good grounds for this opposing point of view,3 Following from Mitchell's study, in 1977, I conducted a survey of a sample of 420 families in Oi Man Estate to find out how closely they related to their kin, in comparison with co-workers and neighbours.* Oi Man, located in East Kowloon, was completed in 1974, and by the *The research project on which this paper is based was supported by a grant from the Research Committee, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, where Mr. Lee is a Senior Lecturer.

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RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY AND KINSHIP TIES AMONG URBAN CHINESE FAMILIES IN HONG KONG M. K. LEE Some years ago Robert Mitchell concluded from his survey in Hong Kong that kin relationships had declined in importance compared to other types of relationships. As he stated it, "Hong Kong married couples have more social contacts with co-workers than with many of their own kinsmen. They get out together even more often with their neighbours." F.M. Wong endorsed this position, and argued that so- ciability among urban Chinese families in Hong Kong is mainly organized around work associates, friends, and neighbours, and that “contacts with kin are least frequent." 2 Few noticed that Mitchell's statistics on this issue were faulty. He did not use the same scale to measure frequencies of contact with re- latives, with co-workers, and with neighbours. Morever, even with Mitchell's scales, 45 percent of the men (and 42 percent of the women) in his sample reported that they "never" contacted their neighbours, while only 31 percent of the men (and 41 percent of the women) gave the same reply when asked about contact with co-workers. Indeed, 41 percent of his respondents "never" contacted spouses' aunts and uncles, but only 31 percent "never" contacted their own aunts, and 22 percent their spouses' siblings. On the basis of other research, Podmore and Chaney argued that "relations with close kin are strengthened as the traditional support rendered by the clan has diminished in the urban- industrial society of Hong Kong, where welfare support from govern- ment institutions is negligible." And there are good grounds for this opposing point of view, 3 Following from Mitchell's study, in 1977, I conducted a survey of a sample of 420 families in Oi Man Estate to find out how closely they related to their kin, in comparison with co-workers and neighbours.* Oi Man, located in East Kowloon, was completed in 1974, and by the *The research project on which this paper is based was supported by a grant from the Research Committee, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, where Mr. Lee is a Senior Lecturer.

2026-05-13 00:20:53 · Baseline

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RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY AND

KINSHIP TIES AMONG

URBAN CHINESE FAMILIES IN HONG KONG

M. K. LEE

Some years ago Robert Mitchell concluded from his survey in Hong Kong that kin relationships had declined in importance compared to other types of relationships. As he stated it, "Hong Kong married couples have more social contacts with co-workers than with many of their own kinsmen. They get out together even more often with their neighbours." F.M. Wong endorsed this position, and argued that so- ciability among urban Chinese families in Hong Kong is mainly organized around work associates, friends, and neighbours, and that “contacts with kin are least frequent." 2

Few noticed that Mitchell's statistics on this issue were faulty. He did not use the same scale to measure frequencies of contact with re- latives, with co-workers, and with neighbours. Morever, even with Mitchell's scales, 45 percent of the men (and 42 percent of the women) in his sample reported that they "never" contacted their neighbours, while only 31 percent of the men (and 41 percent of the women) gave the same reply when asked about contact with co-workers. Indeed, 41 percent of his respondents "never" contacted spouses' aunts and uncles, but only 31 percent "never" contacted their own aunts, and 22 percent their spouses' siblings. On the basis of other research, Podmore and Chaney argued that "relations with close kin are strengthened as the traditional support rendered by the clan has diminished in the urban- industrial society of Hong Kong, where welfare support from govern- ment institutions is negligible." And there are good grounds for this opposing point of view,

*The research project on which this paper is based was supported by a grant from the Research Committee, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, where Mr. Lee is a Senior Lecturer.

RAS-1981 — Page 128

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