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“Hong Kong Kids” or “Kong Kids” (港孩) is an expression that has become increasingly popular in Hong Kong, especially among online platforms and the media. They refer to children or teenagers that are unable to look after themselves, have low emotional intelligence and are easily vulnerable to adversity. Such kids are typically born in the mid-late 1990s to the early 21st century and are often the product of middle class families with domestic helpers who over-pamper and spoil the children.

According to a survey by People’s Daily Online, almost half of the parents who responded said that their children cannot eat, clean themselves up or change clothes independently and 15 percent of the respondents even said their children could not use the toilet independently. . When faced with difficulties, ‘Kong Kids’ expect others to solve these questions instead of finding their own solutions as it is difficult for them to face the music when experiencing setbacks and have low self-images.

Common Characteristics
1.     Low problem solving skills


 * Prefer giving up when faced with hardships

2.     Low communication skills


 * Having difficulties in expressing own ideas


 * Refuse to accept others’ opinions and suggestions

3.     Low emotional intelligence quotient (EQ)


 * Emotional and bad-tempered


 * Gets angry whenever people do not act according to their will

4.     Low ability in taking care of their own self


 * Unable to carry out simple daily routines

5.     Disrespect for elder family members, teachers or even peers


 * Unable to understand the importance of respect


 * Treats elderly family members as equals

6.     Self-centered


 * Possesses a sense of superiority


 * Believes that everyone is obligated to compromise and accommodate them

7.     Apathetic about his/her surroundings

8.     Unthankful and inappreciative


 * Do not appreciate their chance to receive education


 * Never thank their parents for providing for them

9.     Over-dependent, especially on parents

10.   Having no goals, aims and even demands on themselves


 * Satisfied with their current situation and refuses to improve


 * Believe that they have already done more than enough

11.   Cherish “fun and games” more than “study and learn”


 * Do not care about academic results, only playing


 * Belittle the importance of knowledge

12.    Pursue materialistic life


 * Purchase unnecessary items like toys and clothes, without treasuring them


 * Fail to appreciate and understand parents’ hardship in earning money

13.    Having difficulties in facing the public or unfamiliar people


 * Feel exceptionally shy and nervous whenever they interact with unfamiliar people

14.    Vulnerable to adversity


 * Easily frustrated when facing adversity

Controversial Ideology of Parents
Many Hong Kong parents think that learning extensive textbook knowledge is the only path to success and that studying is the sole most important thing for children to do. Hence, to let their child fully concentrate, parents would rather reduce their daily jobs, be it in grooming themselves, cooking or doing housework, than to let them become distracted. Not only does this lead kids towards over-dependence, but also causes them to lose the ability to look after themselves. 'Helicopter parents'. is a related parenting type where parents always supervise and hover above their children when they encounter barriers, instead of letting them find solutions or develop other essential skills.

Low Parent-Child Ratio
The average fertility rate of Hong Kong couples is only 1.2 children in 2011. This means that most families have only one child as opposed to those with 2 or more. As a result, parents tend to be more overprotective of their only child, scolds them less frequently and have a higher level of acceptance for their attitudes. This excess attention and pampering easily creates spoiled and self-centered kids.

Long Working Hours of Parents
Most parents in Hong Kong work long hours. To take care of chores and their children, many families employ domestic helpers. This means that children are not only exempt from housework, but also ‘babysitted’ into their teenage years, encouraging dependence. The limited time parents get to spend with their children also causes parents to spoil their children with luxuries more frequently than usual as compensation, creating ‘spoilt brats’.

Produce Unable Individuals
Kids with ‘Kong Kid’ symptoms have low self-care and problem-solving abilities due to over-dependence on Helicopter parents and lack of experience in solving challenges. When faced with adversity, they immediately give up, feeling exceptionally pressured, often resulting in melancholia or even suicide in serious cases. ‘Kong Kids’ would also remain childish and never grow up psychologically as they are used to being overprotected.

Family Pressures and Fracturing of Relationships
Some children who rely too much on their parents can’t even eat or go to the toilet without their parents. As a result, myriads of ‘Mother’s boys and girls’ appear. This causes pressure on parents to be responsible for their child’s actions. When kids do something impolite or immoral in public, heated discussions arise in society. This leads to a damage in parent-kid relationships as parents feel bothered and maybe even humiliated that they can not teach their ‘kids’ properly.

Burdens for the Future Society
Children are the major pillars of the future society, but Kong kids may not survive in the real world as they are unable to interact with and accommodate others, including strangers. They also do not cherish what they have and cannot tolerate hardships in work. This creates an inefficient workforce who do not cooperate for any common goal. ‘Kong Kids’ also face the risk of being eliminated, which would then lower the limited future generation, in turn, decreasing Hong Kong’s social quality and future competitiveness.

Tai Po Impolite Kong Kid Scolding Parents
On the 9th July, 2011, a shocking video entitled ‘Tai Po Impolite Kong Kid Scolding Parents’ (大埔超級城無禮小學雞當街鬧父母) filmed by witnesses of the incident, began circulating on a variety of websites, including the popular video site, Youtube, and was also reported by different newspaper.

In this 3-minute video, a young boy with his hands on his hips was seen shouting and condemning his parents for ‘forcing’ him to accompany them to the Tai Po supermarket. During the exchange, the kid threatened to call the police and began spitting foul language when his parents asked him to keep quiet. Despite a group of surrounding audiences, the child persisted with his profanity and obscene attitude. In the end, a passerby, unable to stand the child, gave the child $20 so that he could take a taxi home and stop harassing his parents.

This video attracted various criticism from all over and has soon made its appearance in magazines and the local news, becoming a hotly debated topic and a notorious video example of a Kong Kid.