Chinese Adolescents in Britain and Hong Kong: Identity and Aspirations

This work is based on several years work in Hong Kong and Britain, both before and after the absorption of the Special Administration Region of Hong Kong into the People's Republic of China in 1997. The initial chapters review the history of Chinese people in Britain; specific aspects of Chinese culture and personality; Chinese educational systems; and the recent history of migration from Hong Kong to Britain. The central part of the book compares three samples of adolescents (about 350 in the two cultures): Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong and Chinese adolescents in Britain, with sub-divisions of those who have grown up in Britain and those recently arrived; and Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. All of the 1050 respondents completed measures of self-concept, identity, educational aspirations and views about the family, society and the future. The final part of the book contains extended qualitative accounts from personal interviews with a sample of Chinese adolescents in Britain and concludes with proposals for educational and policy changes which can accomodate the aspirations of Chinese adolescents in the British educational system.