I am writing about the problem of domestic violence in Hong Kong.
If we understand violence to be socially and culturally triggered, changing the society and modifying the culture - especially our exam culture - seem to be the two things left to do.
Take my late dad for instance. When he first came to Hong Kong, he was an apprentice in a metal workshop. His employer would not teach him anything, afraid he would set up on his own after learning the trade. So, he had to observe closely what his boss was doing and learn that way. If he fouled up he was slapped.
He finally set up his own metal workshop and had employees and my elder sisters working for him. But he had picked up his boss' methods and my sisters grew to fear him, for he was demanding and fierce. He could be violent though not against me. While I was working for him in his metal workshop, he expected me to 'pick up' his skills the way he did.
I have inherited my father's bad temper.
My father had many mouths to feed and needed my sisters to work for him, but they were all deprived of a secondary education.