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Over the past 20 years, many European countries have created more openings for higher education for their young people. Coupled with an unstable employment market, changes in social and housing policies, as well as shifting attitudes towards marriage and relationships, it appears that young people, now more than ever, remain economically dependent on their families for a longer period of time.

 Is the same true for Hong Kong? This Study aims to look at the economic dependence of young people on their families. It raises the question of whether young people's independence and plans towards starting their own family units are being postponed. What other factors determine the continuation of economic dependence on one¡¦s family? This Study was conducted through (1) opinion surveys of Hong Kong young people; and (2) in-depth Interviews with young people. It is hoped that this Study will provide a clearer picture of the issues concerned and may result in suggesting recommendations for a way forward.

 The telephone survey was conducted in a 12-day period from the 15^th of November to the 30^th of November 2006. By random sampling, 535 eligible young people aged between 18 and 34 were successfully polled, yielding a response rate of 61%, with a standard error of ¡Ó2.2%. To better grasp the situation, the respondents were divided into the age groups of 18-19, 20-24, 25-29 and 30-34 for analysis.

 To have an in-depth understanding of the situation, we conducted case study interviews between the 13^th of November and the 8^th of December 2006. 10 young people were successfully interviewed with 4 males and 6 females aged between 18 and 32. Among them, one was a student, eight were employed, and one was unemployed / seeking employment.

 In this chapter, the results of our Study are summarized for discussion and conclusions drawn with relevant recommendations.

 The major findings are as follows:

 (1)     There is a trend of prolonged ¡§adolescence¡¨ as Hong Kong¡¦s youth become more financially dependent.

 (2)    According to the findings, many respondents believed that ¡§having a stable income¡¨, ¡§having a full-time job¡¨ and ¡§not asking for money from their family¡¨ meant they were financially independent. Besides, many thought people only became financially independent ¡§after they turned 30¡¨.

 (3)    Continued education, low-income employment, cultural factors, economic factors and housing factors all contributed to young people¡¦s prolonged financial dependency on families.

 a.    Continued education: The pursuit of tertiary education delayed many young people¡¦s age of first employment; hence their financial independence was delayed as well.

 b.    Low-income employment: To the less qualified young people, low-income employment weakened their abilities to attain financial independence as well as continued their financial dependency on families.

 c.    Cultural factors: Our traditional family values reinforced the parents¡¦ sense of obligation to continue support of their grown-up children.

d.     Economic factors: Young people did not see the need to seek financial independence as they continued to enjoy parental support.

e.    Housing factors: Housing is the pre-requisite for young people to lead an independent life.

 (4)     Young people in Hong Kong began to experience their non-linear transition from adolescence to adulthood, which in turn affected their financial dependency on families.

 (5)     The trend of prolonged ¡§adolescence¡¨ will pose heavy financial burdens on less well-off families as young people continued to rely on family support.

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