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SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK
Lecture 7: Class Studies
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Class studies in Hong Kong
Background: A rapid economic growth since late 60s Development of social policies in 70s Experience an overall betterment of lives Improvement in terms of housing, education, medical services L7:
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Class studies in late 1970s Framework:
The descriptive and predictive power of Marxist Theory Main Concern and argument: even the working-class people are now enjoying a middle-class way of life. (late 70s) L7:
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Class studies in late 1980s Change in the economic structure
Change in the occupational structure accordingly Fishing Manufacturing Tourism Banking & Financing L7:
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Distribution of working population by occupations
Occupations/ Year 1961 1971 1981 1991 Professional 61k 80k 144k 237k +31% +85% Administrator/ Manager 37k 38k 64k 139k +3% +71% Clerical worker 70k 129k 294k 504k +129% Sales 163k 164k 248k 313k +1% +51% Service worker 180k 230k 374k 507k +28% +63% Fisherman/ Farmer 88k 59k 51k 25k -32% -15% Production workers: Transport, Storage & Machine operators 580k 808k 1213k 982k +39% +50% Unclassifiable 13k 40k 17k 8k +201% -57% Total 1,191k 1,547k 2,404k 2,715k +29% +55% L7:
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Other Hong Kong Studies
Chinese society Hong Kong urban industrial society Traditional Chinese culture Modern urban culture Ethos of HK Chinese Industrial development Colonial history and Social policies L7:
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HK Class Structure in late 80s
Social Class % I Higher managerial & professional occupations 8.6 II Lower managerial & professional occupations 11.3 III Intermediate (white collar) occupations 9.6 IV Small employers and own-account workers 14.0 V Lower-grade technicians, supervisors 15.9 VI Skilled manual workers 15.8 VII Semi-skilled to unskilled workers, agricultural 24.8 20% 40% L7:
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The Rise of Middle Classes (80s)
Class Structure: From triangle to diamond shape Main Concern and Argument: Most of people in HK are now middle-class Increasing number of working-class people have became middle-class L7:
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Results of the Development
An intellectual challenge of class studies: Death of class When the whole society become a middle class society: equal and fair Limited inequalities in: Income Educational attainment Housing resources L7:
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Readings: Leung, Benjamin K. P. (1994) “Class and Class Formation in Hong Kong Studies,” in S.K. Lau, et al. (ed.) Inequalities and Development: Social Stratification in Chinese Societies Optional Readings: 呂大樂, 黃偉邦 (1998) 階級分析與香港, 第一章 ( me for an English version if you’re interested) L7:
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