The number of marriages between men from Hong Kong and women
from the mainland is on the increase, but so too are the reported
cases of spousal abuse.
Last year, 18,000 such weddings took place, more than eight
times the 2,215 recorded in 1996. One possible reason for the rise
is that as the socio-economic status of Hong Kong women has risen,
so men from the special administrative region have sought wives
from across the border.
However, for many new brides, things often turn sour after they
arrive in Hong Kong.
There is often a lack of understanding between the couple and
wives find it difficult to adapt to their new lifestyles. Spousal
abuse often results.
Figures released recently by the Social Welfare Department (SWD)
show that 3,412 cases of spousal abuse were reported in the first
three quarters of 2006, an increase of 37 percent on the same
period a year earlier.
The number of reported cases of child abuse rose by 6.6 percent
to 594 over the same period, while the number of cases of abuse of
the elderly fell slightly to 325.
The figures showed that Kwun Tong District and remote areas such
as Tin Shui Wai had the most cases of domestic violence.
In one case in 2004, a 45-year-old man living in Tin Shui Wai
killed his wife and children before committing suicide. Last year,
three women suffering from emotional problems resulting from
unhappy marriages, committed suicide.
Margaret Wong, executive director of Harmony House, a women's
shelter, said that more than half of the women living in its houses
were new arrivals who had been in Hong Kong for less than seven
years.
Wong explained that some mainland women often suffered from
depression after moving to Hong Kong.
"Often there is a lack of communication between the couple when
the woman is still on the mainland in the initial years of
marriage. But because they might see each other just once a week or
even only once a month, there is no time for conflict," Wong
said.
"But when the wife gets to Hong Kong, the couple has more time
together and that is when their troubles begin."
These women are often devastated after coming to Hong Kong,
especially if they find that their living standards are not what
they expected.
The economic growth over recent years has led to a decline in
labor-intensive industries, which has put many people out of
work.
"So women from the mainland become an economic burden on their
husbands and this makes the situation worse," Wong said.
The problem is often worsened if young wives do not have any
friends to talk to or fail to report the problems in the early
stages.
"They think it is a disgrace to let others know about their
problems. Some of our clients did not ask for help even though they
had been abused for 10 years," Wong said.
Wong said that more preventive measures should be taken.
Seminars could be held, for example, to brief women on what they
can expect before they commit to moving to Hong Kong.
(China Daily May 10, 2007)