Name: Ip Lung Yuen SID: 51854750
Argumentative essay
Rising Divorce rate in Hong Kong
Divorce is a social problem that has affected families in both developed and undeveloped countries. According to the figure from Census and Statistics Department (2006), the number of divorces was increasing continuously during this period and the number in 2006 was eight times that in 1981. The divorce rate of Hong Kong is now around 20-30%. There are three main factors cause for rising divorce rate in Hong Kong, which are spouses’ infidelity, unconventional marriage pattern and unconventional marriage value. In order to reduce and ease up problem about divorce, there are three suggestions to achieve the goal. The first suggestion is for the government to set up more severe divorce law. The second one is to have a premarital counseling. The last one is to pay more effort after getting married.
In the past, most of Chinese’s marriage is arranged by family while this phenomenon should seldom occur in Hong Kong. During the westernization of Hong Kong and the popularization of using the Internet, there are many new marriage patterns existed. Those new marriage patterns, like flash marriage and internet marriages, are becoming more popular and acceptable than before. However, there are some figures showed that the ratio of divorce of these new marriage patterns is much higher than that of traditional one. It triggers the increase of divorce rate. In order to prevent divorce rate raised that causes by this factor, there are people who suggest the government to set up more strict law to deterrent couple from flash marriage. The suggestion is that the law should not allow people to marry and divorce within a really small period such as 12 hours or 1 day. According to Gordon M. (1998), ‘Where divorce is the issue, it is better to live with the problems of relatively unregulated private life than to impose the greater problems of strict regulation.’ Severe law seems no a good solution of divorce. This suggestion may not help to solve the problem of climbing divorce rate since it cannot resolve the main factor of divorce. The couples who get married without a solid relationship and understanding of each other will break out in short period. Furthermore, this suggestion may also offence the major spirits of Hong Kong – Freedom and many efforts should works on the details of law to avoid conflict about basic law.
Apart from this suggestion, there are two advices to avoid and prevent divorce in pre-marriage stage and after get married.
In the pre-marriage stage, the couple is suggested to have a premarital counseling. Generally, the boys use to prepare a romantic scenario for proposing married and the girls are usually enjoy and touch about that. Therefore the couple makes agreement of married without thinking twice. As Reid Jr (2007) says, “Parties to a covenant marriage must, as a matter of state law, undergo premarital counseling to gain a deeper sense of marital permanence and fidelity.” A deep understanding about each other is needed to ensure the couple getting marriage, which build on a solid relationship. While there is a trend that more people accept flash marriage and internet marriage and this kind of marriage pattern may have a relatively high rate to divorce as the couple married without a detail consideration and future plan. It shows a fact that married is an important manner so that should not be decided suddenly. Therefore pre-marriage counseling may be a good choice to make the couple to clear their mind about their marriage and future life and divorce could be less likely to happen.
In married stage, maintaining marriage becomes more significant. According to William (1979),” in the traditional cultures man is dominant in the families, but in modern culture, women believed that, they are equal to the men in management of family and do not accept dominant of man. Distribution of power theory, believes that, man and woman for taking power have challenges that could be lead to divorce.” In Hong Kong, equality of the sexes is claimed and traditional cultures should change, otherwise there is a crack in marriage. In order to maintaining a consummate marriage, couples should treat their spouse just like themselves and humor each other. Apart from male or female chauvinism, self-centeredness of couple could also cause divorce. Nowadays, children are more self-centeredness than those in one or two decades before since many families have only a child. When these children married, they may have conflicts and do not know how to cope with it. Communication may one of the ways to resolve and smooth their contradiction. Recognizing others point of views, the couple could pardon others and relieve the conflicts.
In conclude, marriage is a lifelong manner and divorce could avoid. From the above solutions, the help of government by setting up laws should not advocate since it cannot solve the radical problem of getting divorce and also restrict the freedom of Hong Kong people. The second and third suggestions should help to deal with the problem of rising divorce rate. As the couple is familiar with each other before married, has a good communication and humor with each other after married, their marriage life could be consummate.
Reference List
Census and Statistics Department (2011). Marriage and Divorce Trends in Hong Kong, 1981 to 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2013 from, Web site: http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp160.jsp?productCode=FA100055
Robert M. (1998). The Yale Law Journal. The limits of limits on divorce, 107 (1435-1465), 31.
Reid, C. J. (2007). Covenant Marriage in Comparative Perspective. United States: Catholic University of America Press.
Barikani, Ameneh; Ebrahim, Sarichlow Mohamad; Navid, Mohammadi, & (2012). Global Journal of Health Science. The Cause of Divorce among Men and Women Referred to Marriage and Legal Office in Qazvin, Iran,8.
Argumentative essay
Rising Divorce rate in Hong Kong
Divorce is a social problem that has affected families in both developed and undeveloped countries. According to the figure from Census and Statistics Department (2006), the number of divorces was increasing continuously during this period and the number in 2006 was eight times that in 1981. The divorce rate of Hong Kong is now around 20-30%. There are three main factors cause for rising divorce rate in Hong Kong, which are spouses’ infidelity, unconventional marriage pattern and unconventional marriage value. In order to reduce and ease up problem about divorce, there are three suggestions to achieve the goal. The first suggestion is for the government to set up more severe divorce law. The second one is to have a premarital counseling. The last one is to pay more effort after getting married.
In the past, most of Chinese’s marriage is arranged by family while this phenomenon should seldom occur in Hong Kong. During the westernization of Hong Kong and the popularization of using the Internet, there are many new marriage patterns existed. Those new marriage patterns, like flash marriage and internet marriages, are becoming more popular and acceptable than before. However, there are some figures showed that the ratio of divorce of these new marriage patterns is much higher than that of traditional one. It triggers the increase of divorce rate. In order to prevent divorce rate raised that causes by this factor, there are people who suggest the government to set up more strict law to deterrent couple from flash marriage. The suggestion is that the law should not allow people to marry and divorce within a really small period such as 12 hours or 1 day. According to Gordon M. (1998), ‘Where divorce is the issue, it is better to live with the problems of relatively unregulated private life than to impose the greater problems of strict regulation.’ Severe law seems no a good solution of divorce. This suggestion may not help to solve the problem of climbing divorce rate since it cannot resolve the main factor of divorce. The couples who get married without a solid relationship and understanding of each other will break out in short period. Furthermore, this suggestion may also offence the major spirits of Hong Kong – Freedom and many efforts should works on the details of law to avoid conflict about basic law.
Apart from this suggestion, there are two advices to avoid and prevent divorce in pre-marriage stage and after get married.
In the pre-marriage stage, the couple is suggested to have a premarital counseling. Generally, the boys use to prepare a romantic scenario for proposing married and the girls are usually enjoy and touch about that. Therefore the couple makes agreement of married without thinking twice. As Reid Jr (2007) says, “Parties to a covenant marriage must, as a matter of state law, undergo premarital counseling to gain a deeper sense of marital permanence and fidelity.” A deep understanding about each other is needed to ensure the couple getting marriage, which build on a solid relationship. While there is a trend that more people accept flash marriage and internet marriage and this kind of marriage pattern may have a relatively high rate to divorce as the couple married without a detail consideration and future plan. It shows a fact that married is an important manner so that should not be decided suddenly. Therefore pre-marriage counseling may be a good choice to make the couple to clear their mind about their marriage and future life and divorce could be less likely to happen.
In married stage, maintaining marriage becomes more significant. According to William (1979),” in the traditional cultures man is dominant in the families, but in modern culture, women believed that, they are equal to the men in management of family and do not accept dominant of man. Distribution of power theory, believes that, man and woman for taking power have challenges that could be lead to divorce.” In Hong Kong, equality of the sexes is claimed and traditional cultures should change, otherwise there is a crack in marriage. In order to maintaining a consummate marriage, couples should treat their spouse just like themselves and humor each other. Apart from male or female chauvinism, self-centeredness of couple could also cause divorce. Nowadays, children are more self-centeredness than those in one or two decades before since many families have only a child. When these children married, they may have conflicts and do not know how to cope with it. Communication may one of the ways to resolve and smooth their contradiction. Recognizing others point of views, the couple could pardon others and relieve the conflicts.
In conclude, marriage is a lifelong manner and divorce could avoid. From the above solutions, the help of government by setting up laws should not advocate since it cannot solve the radical problem of getting divorce and also restrict the freedom of Hong Kong people. The second and third suggestions should help to deal with the problem of rising divorce rate. As the couple is familiar with each other before married, has a good communication and humor with each other after married, their marriage life could be consummate.
Reference List
Census and Statistics Department (2011). Marriage and Divorce Trends in Hong Kong, 1981 to 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2013 from, Web site: http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp160.jsp?productCode=FA100055
Robert M. (1998). The Yale Law Journal. The limits of limits on divorce, 107 (1435-1465), 31.
Reid, C. J. (2007). Covenant Marriage in Comparative Perspective. United States: Catholic University of America Press.
Barikani, Ameneh; Ebrahim, Sarichlow Mohamad; Navid, Mohammadi, & (2012). Global Journal of Health Science. The Cause of Divorce among Men and Women Referred to Marriage and Legal Office in Qazvin, Iran,8.
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