Hong Kong teenagers have been getting some bad press. Youth experts say that the territory's teens are money-minded clothes-hangers who are particularly vulnerable to emotional and family problems. Surveys by advertising agencies, youth groups and research companies show that youngsters are more likely to feel passionate about haute couture, Canto-pop and comics than lobbying for pension plans and animal rights. But how accurate is this portrayal of Hong Kong's future movers and shakers? KAY WORBOYS and CINDY SZETO spoke to a cross-section of the territory's 13-year-olds to gauge their opinions and attitudes on everything from parents and politics to hobbies and hash.
Name: Peter Sabine, Pokfulam.
School: Chinese International School.
Background: Peter was born in Hong Kong and has lived here all his life. His father is a financial adviser and his mother is a literature teacher.
1 If you were made Governor of Hong Kong what would you change first? I would spend more of the budget helping to fight the drugs problem, which I know they've been doing, but I would also spend more on the homeless and elderly, on pensions and things like that.
2 If you were given $3,000, what would you do with it? I'd spend $1,000 and save the rest. I'd probably spend the money on CDs.
3 What foreign countries have you visited? England, America, France, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Australia, Indonesia.