Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1994

No Authority Is Beyond Challenge Decline of Authority, Social Conflict and Social Reintegration in Hong Kong: Patterns of Social Change in the Last Years of British Rule The Decline of Authority: Phenomena and Factors Recent years have seen a decline in the authority of Hong Kong's political, economic and social leaders. The media have made it their business to ridicule and vilify public figures, exercises which the general public accept wi th great relish. Demonstrations have become more frequent and violent in some cases. Young people's respect for headmasters and teachers has diminished tremendously — in secondary schools it is not surprising to f i nd students hurling swear words at teachers, and in the universities the vice- chancellors have found it increasingly difficult to maintain the d i gn i ty and image that their predecessors used to enjoy. Prof. S.K. Lau of the Sociology Department of The Chinese University of Hong Kong sees substantial links between the decline in authority and problems brought about by 1997. With the change of government in 1997 new figures wi ll inevitably emerge to assume power and leadership, and existing leaders w i ll either be phased out or have to change their roles. The erosion of authority and diminution of respect for leaders are thus quite anticipated. Taking the community as a Photo supplied by the South China Morning Post Research Projects 5