Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1885544/young-hong-kong-adults-who-stay-parents-not-immature
Comment/ Letters

Young Hong Kong adults who stay with parents not immature

The last day at the Ani-com and Games Fair 2015 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. 28JUL15

I refer to Peter Kammerer’s column (“Cocooned in a virtual world, our young delay entry into real one”, November 10).

Kammerer disapproves of the lives led by many young working adults in Hong Kong. He refers to their obsession with comics and computer games and says that and the fact that many are still living with their parents, even into their 30s, and marry late are signs of immaturity. I do not agree with him.

The love of comics and manga does not necessarily show young adults’ failure to grow up. And even if some of them buy comics, that does not mean they are unable to show maturity in their working lives and when socialising with their peers. Also, with advances in technology, comics are very different from those that middle-aged people bought when they were young, so it is difficult to make comparisons. If young people are diligent in the workplace, then we should not criticise them over how they relax and relieve the pressure they face at work.

The decision of many of these young people to stay with their parents and marry late has nothing to do with overdependence or loss of ambition. They have to deal with high housing costs, as Kammerer mentioned, and for many, their career prospects are not that good. Today’s young adults find it far more difficult to get promotion than previous generations. Without promotion, they cannot earn a higher salary and that makes it difficult for them to have enough to own a flat.

Some have tried to become more independent by moving out of the family home, but often all they can afford is a subdivided unit, and because they pay so much rent, they cannot save up for a mortgage.

Hong Kong is very competitive, and many youngsters choose to save and work hard, so they can eventually have a stable standard of living with the person they love. They do not lack a spirit of independence or ambition. We should support these young adults rather than criticise them.

Helen Leung, Tseung Kwan O