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Quinton Chan

HONG KONG men have little in common with their wives, the most detailed family survey in recent years has revealed.

 It showed most local husbands think their marriage is a happy one, while few wives think the same way.

 The study, Contemporary Hong Kong Family in Transition, found that most wives believe they contribute the most to family life and they accused their husbands of being unwilling to help with housework.

 It also revealed that Hong Kong people remain extremely conservative about sex - with most firmly opposed to extra-marital sex.

 The study, by the Hong Kong Women's Foundation and Hong Kong University Social Work and Social Administration Department, interviewed 235 families with children aged from 10 to 29. Its results will be published next month.

 While 69 per cent of husbands said their wives were happy with their marriage, only 60 per cent were in fact satisfied.

 Sixty-one per cent of wives said their husbands were happy with their relationship, but 77 per cent of husbands said they were satisfied.

 Dr Law Chi-kwong, who conducted the study, said wives appeared to have higher expectations of marriage than their husbands.

 ''Male expectations of marriage are often lower than those of their wives - they often don't think their marriages are at risk,'' he said.

 Seventy per cent of wives and 78 per cent of daughters criticised men for doing too little household work. But only 54 per cent of husbands agreed they could do more.

 Men also attach more importance than women to continuing the family line. Forty-four per cent of husbands and 35 per cent of sons said it was very important. But only 34 per cent of wives and 19 per cent of daughters agreed.

 Men and women were also sharply at odds over sex - 83 per cent of wives and 80 per cent of daughters were against extra-marital sex, while only 70 per cent of husbands and 65 per cent of sons were.

 But despite such striking differences in attitude, the report found 68 per cent of couples were satisfied with their marriage.

 The 100 page report, which has taken a year to produce, also found that wives now enjoy far more power in the home than ever before.

 It shows women have the major say over how their children are taught, what they are allowed to do, and set the basic rules for the family to follow.

 The report also showed young women were making a concerted effort to win more freedom and power within the family. Only 28 per cent of daughters agreed men should dominate the family, a view still endorsed by 60 per cent of fathers.

 Forty per cent of daughters thought living, unmarried, with a man was acceptable, while only 21 per cent of mothers approved.

 But the report also revealed that many young women still harbour traditional social values.

 Eighty-four per cent said they should take care of their elderly parents, 65 per cent said they would consult their parents on career problems and 36 per cent even said they would consult them on marriage.

  Dr Law said the nature of the typical Hong Kong family was going through major changes: ''The traditional Chinese family concept of male dominance is gradually vanishing, but the constraints of obedience still strongly exist.'' 



Study shows gulf between couples