It is the fourth, and the last, of the Comparative Youth Study
Series on civic education. In 1997, Hong Kong will transfer from
a British colony to a Special Administrative Region under Chinese
rule. It would be an interesting idea to know and understand the
similarities and differences of young people’s reaction to
such changes. This study will examine four main areas: political
participation, political conception, government polices and civil
servants. A total of 522 young people aged between 15 and 29 were
successfully surveyed in Hong Kong, 499 from Guangzhou and 491
from Beijing. A very useful reference for those who are keen to
better understand youths in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Beijing.
Major findings:
Compared with their Beijing and Guangzhou counterparts,
young people in Hong Kong are less concerned about the
social and livelihood;
Youth in these three places share the opinion that their
views have no influence on government policy-making;
If 100 indicates a serious concern about social issues
and 0 indicates no concern, the mean score of the Hong
Kong sample is 52, Beijing 66 and Guangzhou 77;
Most young people are influenced by the mass media as
well as government propadande;
Young people in Guangzhou and Beijing generally consider
political opinons from the NPC/CPPCC members,
commentators and scholars to be credible. The Hong Kong
youth also trust commentators and scholars, but a higher
percentage are more inclined to trust in journalists;
Hong Kng young people were less active in discussing
political affairs, while their counterpart in Beijing and
Guangzhou would discuss political issues occasionally;
Hong Kong youths emphazised economic development and a
competent government as the major forces of social
reform. The Mainland respondents shared similar views
believing that good citizens and economic development
were the major forces of social reform;
Approximately 40 per cent of young people in Guangzhou
and Beijing wished they could work in government
organizations, while most of the Hong Kong respondents
(65 per cent) being unwilling;
In respect of government performance, the Hong Kong
respondents wre most dissatisfied with housing and
transportation whereas the Mainland youngsters' comments
were more to do with law and order, corruption and
inflation;
京穗港青年比較研究系列(三地)＜四＞