Bulletin No. 1, 2019

The millennial generation in Hong Kong knows affluence more intimately. Hong Kong experienced a golden period of economic take-off in the 1980s and 1990s. Their growing up coincided with the proliferation of privileges and conveniences in a prosperous society with a progressively improving social welfare system. As beneficiaries of the nine-year free education policy, which was launched in the late 1970s, and greater access to higher education opportunities in the 1990s, they were generally better educated than their parents and grandparents. With fewer siblings, the same group of youngsters are getting more care and attention from their parents, too. If the ethos of the previous generations can be characterized by the pursuit of material comfort, that of the millennials would be the pursuit of the meaning of life, including the pursuit of enriching experiences in life. In addition to monetary reward, the millennials give emphasis to choice and free will. They opt to base their career decisions on their interests and their perceived contribution to society. Many of them eventually leave their corporate affiliations and become self-employed or freelancers in pursuit of their dreams. The more talented would even become flexibly employed as part of the ‘slash’ culture. The ambitious would try entrepreneurship. Professor To analysed this in terms of generational theory: ‘The generation which grows up in a more trying and impoverished time would embrace materialism more readily. In contrast, those who grow up in a more stable and affluent time which provides more opportunities for personal development would exhibit traits of what we call ‘post-materialism’. The theory of intergenerational value change sees the new generation— whether born in the 1980s or the 1990s—as more post- materialistic. They are more inclined to voice their views and participate in and make contributions to society.’ Would the different outlooks between generations bring about conflicts? Professor To opined: ‘There may be difficulties in the interactions between generations. But it does not necessarily mean the millennials are at fault. It’s all because of the differences in value, thinking pattern, attitude, habit and behaviour of the two generations. Viewed this way, the true colours of the millennials may be better revealed. This is not to say that the more seasoned are also the more conservative. It’s just that the world they grew up in made them differ in thinking, attitude and behaviour from the millennials.’ 06 Chinese University Bulletin No.1, 2019