Immigration

Hong Kong

July 1

July1,1997

"The Hong Kong immigrants were really a new kind of Canadian. They were educated, spoke English and middle class or wealthy. They weren't going to start out as pizza delivery men and working in Chinese laundries.

They expected to be first-class citizens, they wanted to live in the best neighborhoods, wanted the best schools for their kids.

It changed Vancouver for the better, it's made us more global, more Asian. But it wasn't always an easy process." - Henry Yu, UBC professor

Subculture

"Adapting to western culture was challenging at first. It took time to embrace new life in Canada, while maintaining Chinese beliefs and values."
- 61 yr old HK immigrant (arrived 1990)

Monster Homes

"Like Switzerland for Europe, Vancouver is considered a safe place to store money (not in banks, but in real estate) and a good place to send children to school." (Yu)

2nd/3rd generation

"I think there was too much homework. There are other ways to learn. Why is everything always based on marks? I don't want my own kids to have to go through what I suffered."
- HK immigrant, age 32

*Warning*

• The following are my own personal biases towards Hong Kong immigrant students (2nd/3rd gen)

Parental Expectations

• academics
• language proficiency
• traditional practices
• close family ties
• respect of elders, authority

"Raising a child to 100 years old will give you worries for 99 years."
- Chinese saying

Characteristics

• respectful, attentive
• value academic success
• attempt to be high-achieving (in all areas) - competitive + perfectionists
• bi-cultural: important to hold onto connections to Hong Kong (pop) culture

"I'm proud to be from Vancouver. But I like Hong Kong too. It's a pretty cool place. I might consider working there when I grow up." - Gr.11 student, 2nd generation

Untitled Slide