It is a common belief that local families in which one of the spouses works on the mainland often face problems including extramarital affairs and neglected children.

However, a study by the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Department of Social Work revealed that families with "cross-boundary parents" are managing fine.

A total of 362 such families with school children aged eight or above were interviewed in the study from October 2005 to March 2008.

As surveyed, most families said "cross-boundary occupation" did not have apparent impact on their family relationships.

On the contrary, slightly over half of the parents and about a quarter of the children said their time apart has made them cherish the time that they spend together even more.

Besides, about one third of the children said they have become more independent, Lau revealed.

Maggie has been married for 16 years. Her husband got a job in Shanghai years ago. But she did not feel sad or ask her husband to stay in Hong Kong.

"I need to remain positive to maintain a good relationship with my husband. I want to make him feel relaxed and warm when he comes home," she spoke of her experience at a press conference arranged by the university.

When the husband is away, the couple would e-mail each other. "It is hard to say things like 'I am thinking of you, I care for you' over the telephone," she said.

(China Daily 06/17/2008 page1)