Hong Kong people lack the motivation to help other people or to seek help, according to a recent survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The pollster urged the government to step up promotion of the "mutual aid" concept in schools.

The department of social work interviewed 1,003 people aged 18 or above in May.

The survey results revealed that Hong Kong people are reluctant to help others. A "helping index" of 5.46 was recorded, with 0 indicating absolutely no willingness to help and 10 denoting extreme eagerness to help.

However, about 83 percent of the respondents indicated that they were willing to render financial assistance to family members, while respectively 51.2 percent and 49.2 percent would help close friends and relatives.

Also, 40 percent of the respondents said they would help vulnerable individuals.

"People decide whether to offer help according to rational judgment. For example, they would first decide if what the help-seeker asks for is reasonable," former instructor Terry Leung Tse-fong said.

Meanwhile, the survey found that Hong Kong people have low motivation to seek help.

On a "help-seeking index" of 0 to 10 (0 means absolutely unwilling to seek help and 10 being the opposite), those surveyed got 3.69.

Family members are once again the major source of assistance to most respondents (63 percent). Yet only 37.4 percent and 25.1 percent would ask close friends or relatives for help respectively.

"While some respondents think others would not help them, the low motivation is also related to the Chinese culture which discourages help-seeking, which is reinforced by the ethos of self reliance," Leung explained.

This leads to an even lower help-seeking index (3.36) among the elderly who are deeply rooted in the Chinese culture.

Nevertheless, professor Mok Bong-ho pointed out that Hong Kong people have high awareness of civic right as about 76 percent of respondents said they would seek help from the government and social workers, whom they thought should offer help.

Due to the low motivation in helping and help-seeking, the sense of mutual aid among Hong Kong people is also weak.

Only 38.9 percent of the respondents said mutual love and care existed in the community, and about 52 percent felt individual citizens should bear the responsibility to create a caring culture.

"The current financial turmoil may lead to the outbreak of more domestic and personal problems so the caring culture must be enhanced," Leung said.

As such, Mok suggested the government incorporate the promotion of mutual care in school curriculum.

To look out for elderly members in need, social welfare organizations should provide more outreach services.

The Education Bureau has incorporated core values, including caring for others, in school curriculum, a spokesperson said.

"The Moral and Civic Education curriculum aims to nurture a sense of caring in students so that they can become responsible citizens," she said.

Mutual care is now included in Liberal Studies in secondary school, while the theme will continue on in the New Senior Secondary Curriculum starting in 2009.

(HK Edition 10/23/2008 page1)