Teenagers confused by mass media, fathers and mothers who spend more time at work than with their children or the elderly facing the prospect of death. These all fall within the domain of life education - something some experts say Hong Kong needs.
Complementing what people normally associate with the traditional aims of schooling, life education revolves around reflecting on one's relationships. In Hong Kong, it has been given a boost with the opening of a new life education centre.
The idea is that, rather than giving people hard facts and telling them what they should be doing in their lives, life education encourages them to think about why they do things and to seek out the most meaningful path.
'Life education is about building up students' life values and attitudes, without which it is very difficult for them to develop a positive life orientation,' said Cheung Wing-hung, chief curriculum development officer (moral and civic education) at the Education Bureau.
Mr Cheung noted that life education had become increasingly important in Hong Kong because the traditional methods of giving young people values - through the family or religion - were being challenged.
In response, the school system has upped its emphasis on life education. Its beginnings can be traced back to 1981, with the issuing of the landmark General Guidelines on Moral Education in Schools. Then, in 2001, life education was given a coherent framework focused on values.