The Prejudicial Portrayal of Immigrant Families from Mainland China in Hong Kong Media

Cheuk-lam, Peggy Kung

doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0266-4_12

Peggy Kung Cheuk-lam²

3702 Accesses
2 Citations

Abstract

The issues for the mainland immigrant families are always the hot topic in Hong Kong society throughout years. Afraid of “snatching” at social welfare and other resources, the local residents always hold negative emotions towards the new immigrants. The Hong Kong media, especially the local newspapers, is somehow being the weapon to work against the group. The mainland immigrants are usually portrayed as social parasites and their identities are “reconstructed” under their pens. It is believed that the media and their readers form a “dialogue of collusion” in which the mass media influence the public’s perception of events and matters, while the public also influence the orientation of reportage in the media. This chapter concerns the prejudicial portrayal of Hong Kong newspaper, studies the contents, language, approach, and orientation of the reportage, as well as finds out the invisible alliance between the media and the readers.

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Notes

1.
Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 21 Feb. 2005, “Suggestion that One-way Policy be Readjusted as soon as possible,” A05 Hong Kong Commercial Daily Forum.
2.
Metro Hong Kong, 8 March 2006, “Problems Still have to be Faced,” P46 Supplement.
3.
Singtao Daily, 14 Feb. 2005, “Concern with New Immigrant CSSA Children,” A03 Highlights.
4.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June 2006, “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Wife,” P11 Critiques on Current Affairs.
5.
The Sun, 9 June 2006, “Taking a Radical Measure is better than Fire Fighting,” A44 Editorial and Columns.
6.
Singtao Daily, 2 Aug. 2006, “Tang Kwok-wai: New Immigrants and the Third Party as the Main Causes; The Social Welfare Reconstructs Family Concept and Reduces Violence,” A08 Hong Kong News.
7.
Wenweipo, 18 Jan. 2005, “Special Topic: Chow Wing Sun: Family Tragedy Comes from MercenaryMarriage,” A21 Focus on Hong Kong.
8.
The deceased, Jin Suxiong, in the case was a new immigrant wife, who had come to Hong Kong for less than four months. She and her two twin daughters were murdered by her Hong Kong husband, Li Boshen, who eventually committed suicide. This is the Tin Shui Wai family massacre case, which shocked Hong Kong for some time.
9.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June 2006, “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Wife,” P11 Critiques on Current Affaris.
10.
Hong Kong Daily News, 4 Sept. 2006, “Social Workers often Attacked; Police Urged to Support,” A03 Highlights.
11.
Hong Kong Daily News, 5 July 2005, “Number of Spouse Abuse and Child Abuse Cases Rapidly Rising; Figures from HKU Studies 100 Times that from Social Welfare Department,” A04 Hong Kong News.
12.
The Sun, 5 July 2005, “One Abuse Case every four Families: Child Abuse and Spouse Abuse Increasing; Scholars Advocate Counseling for Abusers,” A11 Local News.
13.
Singpao, 11 Sept. 2005, “It is Difficult to Teach the Children, And Even more Difficult to Keep the Family Intact,” B08 Sunday Magazine.
14.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 1 Dec. 2005, “Marginal World of Hong Kong,” C15 Mood.
15.
“Hong Kong Economic Journal” 24 May 2006. “It is Difficult to Teach the Children, And Even more Difficult to Keep the Family Intact,” P23 Critiques on Current Affairs.
16.
Singpao, 11 Sept. 2005, “Troubled by Problems of Unemployment and Marriage; Tin Shui Wai Family Violence Crisis Difficult to Resolve,” B08 Sunday Magazine.
17.
Singpao, 29 March 2006, “Lack of Communication; New Immigrant Families having Problems,” A04 Hong Kong News.
18.
Takungpo, 29 March 2006, “China–Hongkong Marriage Family Tragedy,” A12 Hong Kong News.
19.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June 2006 “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Wife,” P11 Critiques on Current Affair.
20.
Oriental Daily, 11 Apr. 2005, “Anniversary of Tin Shui Wai Tragedy—Women’s Associations Lash out at Negligence of Wife Abuse,” A27Hong Kong News.
21.
Hong Kong Daily News, 3 Aug. 2006, “New Mechanism of Social Welfare Department for Assessing Violent Families,” A08 Political Situation.
22.
Apple Daily, 25 Sept. 2005, “Abused Women Increased by 30 Times over the Last 30 Years,” A15 Hong Kong News.
23.
Apple Daily, 3 Apr. 2005, “Number of Children Claiming CSSA with Period of Residence in Hong Kong Exempted has Increased Sharply,” A12 Hong Kong News.
24.
Singpao, 3 Apr. 2005, “Number of New Immigrant Children Claiming CSSA Shot upby three Times,” A05 Hong Kong News.
25.
Singtao Daily, 14 Feb. 2005, “Concern with New Immigrant CSSA Children,” A03 Highlights.
26.
Singtao Daily, 2 Aug. 2006, “Tang Kwok-wai: New Immigrants and the Third Party as the Main Causes; The Social Welfare Department Reconstructs Family Concept and Reduces Violence,” A08 Hong Kong News.
27.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June 2006, “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Woman,” P11 Critiques on Current Affairs.
28.
Takungpo, 22 Feb. 2006, “New Immigrant Family Tragedy,” A12 Hong Kong News.
29.
Takungpo, 29 March 2006, “China–Hong Kong Marriage Family Tragedy,” A12 Hong Kong News.
30.
Mingpao, 10 July 2006, “Wife and children came to Hong Kong years ago, cannot Adapt themselves to Life here, Son Drowned, New Immigrant Couple Blame Each Other,” A06 Hong Kong News.
31.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June 2006, “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Wife,” P11 Critiques on Current Affairs.
32.
Hong Kong Economic Times, 1 Dec. 2005, “Marginal World of Hong Kong,” C15 Mood.
33.
The Sun, 5 July 2005, “One Abuse Case every Four Families: Child Abuse and Spouse Abuse Increasing; Scholars Advocate Counseling for Abusers,” A11 Local News.
34.
Singtao Daily, 2 Aug. 2006, “Tang Kwok-wai: New Immigrants and the Third Party as the Main Causes; The Social Welfare Reconstructs Family Concept and Reduces Violence,” A08 Hong Kong News.
35.
Mingpao, 10 July 2006, “Wife and children came to Hong Kong years ago, cannot Adapt themselves to Life here, Son Drowned, New Immigrant Couple Blame Each Other,” A06 Hong Kong News.
36.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June 2006, “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Wife,” P11 Critiques on Current Affairs.
37.
Metro Hong Kong, 8 March 2006, “Problems still have to be Faced,” P46 Supplement.
38.
Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 21 Feb. 2005, “Suggestion that One-way Policy be Readjusted as Soon as Possible,” A05 Hong Kong Commercial Daily Forum.
39.
Singpao, 3 Apr. 2005, “Number of New Immigrant Children Claiming CSSA Shot upby 3 Times,” A05 Hong Kong News.
40.
“Apple Daily,” 3 Apr. 2005, “Number of Children Claiming CSSA with Period of Residence in Hong Kong Exempted has Increased Sharply,” A12 Hong Kong News.
41.
Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 21 Feb. 2005, “Suggestion that One-way Policy be Readjusted as soon as possible,” A05 Commercial Daily Forum.
42.
Singtao Daily, 2 Aug. 2006, “Tang Kwok-wai: New Immigrants and the Third Party as the Main Causes; The Social Welfare Reconstructs Family Concept and Reduces Violence,” A08 Hong Kong News.
43.
“Hong Kong Economic Journal,” 15 June 2006, “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Wife,” P11 Critiques on Current Affairs.
44.
Hong Kong Commercial Daily, 21 Feb. 2005, “Suggestion that One-way Policy be Readjusted as soon as Possible,” A05 Hong Kong Commercial Daily Forum.
45.
Singpao, 29 March 2006, “Lack of Communication; New Immigrant Families having Problems,” A04 Hong Kong News.
46.
Metro Hong Kong, 8 March 2006, “Problems still have to be Faced,” P46 Supplement.
47.
Hong Kong Daily News, 21 March 2005, “Drunken Beat Wife Wielding a Knife and Holding an eight-year-old Son Facing out for six Hours Subdued by Door-breaking Police,” A07 Hong Kong News.
48.
Singtao Daily, 26 March 2006, Drunken Man Trying to Chop Wife Arrested; Child Abuse Exposed, A12 Hong Kong News.
49.
Wenweipo, 26 March 2006, “Going into a Spin after Drinking, with Child Abuse Record, Drunken Man Suspected of Attacking Wife with Knife Arrested,” A12 Hong Kong News.
50.
Singpa, 23 Apr. 2005, “Three-member Family at Wong Tai Sin Public Housing Estate Arrested for Drug Trafficking,” A06 Hong Kong News.
51.
Mingpao, 19 Aug. 2006, “Victim-child Unguarded; Judge Astonished,” A02 Hong Kong News.
52.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 June 2006, “Family Violence and Marrying a Mainland Wife,” P11 Critiques on Current Affairs.
53.
Mingpao, 19 Dec. 2005, “Young People are Poor, why?,” D06 Century Humanities, Concern, Horizon.
54.
Oriental Daily, 9 Apr. 2005, “Take Care of Underprivileged New Immigrants, Social Welfare must not be Bureaucratic,” A30 Kungfu Tea.
55.
Mingpao, 14 Feb. 2006, “Social Worker: New Immigrant Families should Pour out their Worries to Relatives and Friends,” A08 Hong Kong News.
56.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 6 May 2006, “Poverty and Zen Cultivation,” P05 Critiques on Hong Kong and China.
57.
Hong Kong Daily News, 3 Sept. 2006, Family Tenants Safer for Chinese Mansions for Rent, B03 Real Estates.
58.
Takungpo, 3 March 2005, “The Hope of the Disastrous School Area Northwest New Territories; New Immigrant School Age Children Help Village School to Avoid Being Closed,” A14 Hong Kong News.
59.
Oriental Daily, 9 Apr. 2005, “Take Care of Underprivileged New Immigrants, Social Welfare must not be Bureaucratic,” A30 Kungfu Tea.
60.
Wenweipo, 18 Jan. 2005, “Special Topic: Chow Wing Sun: Family Tragedy Comes from MercenaryMarriage,” A21Hong Kong Focus.
61.
Metro Hong Kong, 17 Jan. 2005, “Help Sans Frontiers,” P36 Living.
62.
Hong Kong Economic Journal, 6 May 2006, “Poverty and Zen Cultivation,” P05 Critiques on Hong Kong and China.
63.
Oriental Daily, 9 Apr. 2005, “Take Care of Underprivileged New Immigrants, Social Welfare must not be Bureaucratic,” A30 Kungfu Tea.

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Independent Researcher, Hong Kong, China
Peggy Kung Cheuk-lam

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Peggy Kung Cheuk-lam
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Correspondence to Peggy Kung Cheuk-lam .

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Chan Institute of Social Sciences, Flat H, 15/f Century Indus Bldg, Tsing Yeung Street 1, Tuen Mun, Tsing Yeun, Hong Kong SAR
Chan Kwok-bun

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Cheuk-lam, P.K. (2013). The Prejudicial Portrayal of Immigrant Families from Mainland China in Hong Kong Media. In: Kwok-bun, C. (eds) International Handbook of Chinese Families. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0266-4_12

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0266-4_12
Published: 01 September 2012
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-0265-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-0266-4
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