Coming of Age: setting goals for a good life
1500 eighteen-year olds gathered at the Hong Kong Convention Centre on 2 May to mark their age of majority with a rite of passage. The transition from adolescence to adulthood is celebrated in most communities as the time when young people take up the responsibility for their own lives - both in the legal and the personal sense. Since 1998 the Federation has seen 10,000 young people celebrate the occasion with a public vow of commitment to civil society and their country. Last week they were led by the Secretary for Justice, The Honourable Elsie Leung who offered inspiration by saying:

"You have attained majority and have acquired many rights and freedoms that you did not hitherto enjoy. These bring responsibilities to yourself and your parents, to society and to the state. In the long term we are part of the history of humanity and must be accountable towards later generations. Therefore, you must now set your goals then march towards them with perseverance to a colourful future whether you continue studying, take a job or take up vocational training."

The Honourable Elsie Leung, GBM, JP, Secretary for Justice

At this 8th Coming of Age Ceremony, we were also joined by Mr Li Gang, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Republic in the HKSAR, Professor Cheng Kai-ming of the Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong and Mr Yuan Jia-jun, Head of China's Space Program. Together, we remembered the May Fourth Movement, Modern China's first mass movement which was led with passion by students in pursuit of their own dreams. Dreams and personal goals in life are vitally important but responsibility must have equal prominence in a good life - the aim of the Federation for all Hong Kong's youth. This week's Lead Story has some comments from young people themselves on this process.

Lecture Series on learning from Leaders Saturdays 7 May - 18 June 2:15 - 4:30 pm Leadership 21, The Center, 99 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong Sir T. L. Yang on western social etiquette www.leadership21.org/news.htm for more info

LEAD seminar and showcase Cyberport 3, Levels 3 & 4 Saturday 28 May 2005 9:00 – 11:00 am Seminar on Creativity Crossover: Innovation, Application and Education Guest of Honour: The Hon John Tsang, JP, Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Computers, Robots and Clay: A Showcase of Creativity Guest of Honour: The Hon. Professor Arthur Li, GBS, JP www.u21.org.hk/lead for more info

Almost adults
Many participants in the Coming of Age Ceremony on 2 May were already thinking seriously about their future as young adults as their 18th birthdays approached and the three we interviewed were no exception. We talked to Angela of St Mary's Canossian College, Cliff of St Francis Xavier's College and Joey of St Paul's Secondary School about their reactions and their plans for the next few years.

Joey, now a rather serious young lady with clear ideas about politics, used to be a dreamer. However, she has been taking part in Federation leadership training programmes and with the approach of her 18th birthday she realized that this was the time in her life when she should start working out how to make her dreams a reality:

When I was younger I dreamt of being Miss Hong Kong! But during secondary school that changed and I have realized that I want a career in politics. Being a member of the Leadership 21 Youth Think Tank helped change my mind and I now have concrete ideas about the steps I must take…

Joey and Angela, another member of the Youth Think Tank, meet when they take part in RTHK's Saturday phone-in programme with local politicians. During this period leading up to their coming of age, they realized the need for being well informed and have learned how to voice their opinions clearly. Joey spoke of how her awareness of political and social issues had been raised and Angela said she gained inspiration from the public figures who have appeared on the programme.

I celebrated my 18th birthday with a group of friends who all share the same goal of being involved in community affairs. We decided we must widen our horizons in order to put Hong Kong into a broader perspective.

Of the Coming of Age Ceremony itself, Angela went on to say:

…it left a deep impression on me and was not at all what I expected. I gained a special kind of motivation and it was echoed in the pledge we took.

Cliff, who has been involved in community service with abused children, felt the same, although his primary focus these days is his exciting career goal - to be an airline pilot. Cliff is a sunny person and likes to joke a bit. He said that when he first had the idea it was because of all the glamour of flying and the beautiful workmates he would have. Now he knows it's also because he needs to travel and see other cultures. This is the time in his life when he must start to make his teenage dreams a reality, working out the steps in the process for himself. He said how surprised he was at the strength of his own feelings at his own coming of age and at how moved he was by the ceremony:

It was a real turning point for me and I was touched that so many special people were there, obviously concerned about us. It has helped me get started on the road to becoming a caring adult…

For all three, the importance of becoming 18 lies in realizing that this is the time when ideas and dreams start to change and then crystallize into goals for the future. They have recognized how important it is to have a clear perspective before it is possible to leave juvenile notions behind and formulate plans that allow for the practicalities of life. Now they can grow into capable young adults with great potential for turning dreams into reality.

Pocket money or power struggle

Amidst this month's celebration of coming of age comes the news that a large majority of young people want continued financial backing from their parents for projects such as home ownership and overseas travel. A survey at the Chinese University of Hong Kong* among 1000 Form 4 to university level students showed that 87% felt they would have to continue relying on their parents to look after them after graduating. Somewhat paradoxically, 86% of the same group said they felt a reciprocal responsibility for their parents. Parents were also included in the survey and only 58% of them said they would offer financial support to their children after graduation.

Reluctance among young people to grow up and take on the burdens of decision making is worrying if understandable. The age of majority brings the joys of independence and freedom but also the need for self reliance and the acceptance of responsibility. Young people need to gain confidence in their own problem-solving and decision-making skills but as long as they look to their parents to make major capital outlays on their behalf the transition can be postponed indefinitely. The Federation offers many programmes and courses that cover aspects of self-reliance and confidence building in the context of personal growth and development. We trust that these can give direction to some who might otherwise be tempted to let others make difficult decisions for them.
Contact leadership21@hkfyg.org.hk for more information
.Chinese University survey conducted on behalf of Citibank between 27 March and 15 April, reported in Ming Pao 27 April 2005
. **report in South China Morning Post 5 May 2005, A7

My Mother: a Youth Survey

The Federation conducted a survey entitled 'My Mother' from 2-5 May 2005, successively interviewing 504 young people aged between 15 and 29 on the telephone. The survey discovered that 20.6% of those interviewed gave top marks to being with mother. When asked what they appreciate most in their mothers, 38.7% of them said it was their care for the family. The survey also indicated that young people generally appreciated their mothers' efforts although they seldom used body language to show their love and affection since 65.6% of them had not kissed their mothers in the last year, while 46.8% of them had never given them a hug. Instead, to reciprocate for the love and care offered, 30.2% of them said they spent time in their mothers' company.

On the mother-child relationship, 37.7% said their mothers assumed a guiding role while 26% thought that their mothers used discipline on their children. The survey also showed that the expectations young people have of their mothers are, in order of priority, the maintenance of a harmonious marriage, good cooking, knowing how to communicate well with their children and being open minded. We are looking forward to hearing how they feel about their fathers!