Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1994

whole, people are generally better educated nowadays and possess a more defined notion of freedom and democracy and in that way are more ready to challenge political and social leaders. On the other hand, during the past decade or so, the cleavage between the rich and the poor has grown even wider than before, and people of the lower classes have become increasingly aware of social injustice and their limited chances for personal growth. And then the wealthy are now more prone to flaunt their wealth. Conflict thus arises, and those in the lower strata are apt to think that their 'betters' achieve eminence by sheer luck or inheritance and therefore undeserving of their approval and respect. Social Conflict The decline in authority means that there is no more absolute au t ho r i ty w i t h i n the social framework whic h is beyond challenge. What come with this phenomenon are various kinds of social conflict, and in particular political conflicts. Anytime a major issue crops up it stands a good chance of being politicized nowadays. It is the opinion of Prof. Lau that such conflicts may yet have their positive implications. He believes that, i f properly managed, the conflicts may help to facilitate social reintegration by strengthening socia l and family awareness and enhancing people's aptitude to push for their rights through concerted efforts. The years immediately leading up to 1997 are a crucial, exceptional time for Hong Kong. The development o f Hong Kong hinges on a number of factors which are yet undefined: how Hong Kong w i ll face up to the one-country, two- systems reality, whether there w i ll be a steady, stable transition, and so on. But in that way, Hong Kong is also offering to sociologists a rare occasion for the development and verification of social theories which w i ll eventually benefit the community as a whole. In early 1994 Prof. Lau launched a research project on social changes in Hong Kong during the last few years of British rule. Involved in the project are academics from a number of tertiary education institutions i n Hong Kong as well as scholars from Yale University: Prof. Wong Siu- lun, Mr. Lee Ming-kwan, Prof. Helen Siu, Dr. Lui Tai-lok, Dr. N g Chun Hung, Ms. Wan Po-san, and Dr. Thomas W.P. Wong. The project is financed with a $1.2 million grant from the Research Grants Council. Prof. Lau Siu-kai graduated with a B.Soc.Sc. degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1971 and obtained his Ph.D. at theUniversit yof Minnesota, USA in 1975. He joined this university as lecturer in sociology in August of the same year and was appointed as professor in October 1990. Prof. Lau specializes in studies on Hong Kong and has published extensively on the subject. He is concurrently associate director of the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. Research Projects 6