Identification and Benefits of Neighborhood Social Capital Among Hong Kong Youths with Different Backgrounds: The Locally-Born, Ethnic Minority and New Chinese Immigrants

Background and Purpose: Hong Kong unique status as a former British colony and current Special Administrative Region of China creates a new composition of youth population: locally-born Hong Kongers, locally-born ethnic minority and new Chinese immigrants.  While racial differences exist in youths’ access to school social capital (Dufur, 2016), little is known about how the new Hong Kong generation utilize their neighborhood social capital. Understanding individuals’ access to social capital (i.e., resources embedded in the social process) in spatially defined neighborhoods is important because it affects individuals’ well-being (Carpiano,2006; Coleman,1988). This study explored the similarities and differences in neighborhood social capital among Hong Kong youths of various backgrounds. Research questions: (1)How do they identify social capital in their neighborhoods? (2)What are the benefits associated with it? 

Methods. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted separately with 41 youths living in Hong Kong (aged17-23, Female=65%; Ethnic Minority= 27.5%; New Chinese immigrants=37.5%; locally-born Hong Kongers=35%). Questions in the 45-minutes interview included their identification of neighborhood social capital, types of support received and associated benefits. Purposive sampling was used. Deductive and inductive analysis was adopted. Interviews were managed and coded in NVivo10 by two researchers for inter-rater reliability. Theories, literature and research questions guided the coding and categorization process. Inductive analysis allowed new themes to emerge.

Results: Despite being born and raised locally, ethnic minority only identified public facilities (e.g., recreational centres, libraries) but did not mention neighborhood relationships. Their friendships and sense of community were formed out of their neighborhoods. New immigrants from Mainland China expressed a lack of neighborhood relationships and sense of belonging. They did not utilize much of the public facilities. Neighborhood youth centers were their major source of social capital. Alternatively, locally-born Hong Kongers experienced a sense of neighborhood belonging and positive neighborhood relationships. Social capital was also identified in neighborhood youth centres. For social support and benefits, ethnic minority youths did not benefit much from their neighborhoods. New immigrants identified emotional, informational and appraisal support in neighborhood youth centres, which facilitated their studying and cultural assimilation. Local youths identified instrumental support from their neighbors, and emotional and appraisal support from neighborhood community centers. Benefits experienced by local youths included a strong neighborhood network, social mobility, personal growth, and lifelong friendships. Other themes were: Volunteering as a key vehicle to facilitate a sense of neighborhood/community belonging; participation in religious activities as a unique social capital source among the ethnic minority; isolation and discrimination in neighborhoods experienced by ethnic minority and new Chinese immigrants.

Conclusion and implications: While youths of different backgrounds all enjoy social resources, the spatially defined neighborhood does not benefit ethnic minority and new immigrants as much as local Hong Kongers. Racial segregation within neighborhoods is an issue. Findings will inform future quantitative studies. Neighborhood youth centers can reach out to ethnic minority and organize volunteering activities for neighborhood social capital. Government have to consider policies to bridge ethnic minority and new Chinese immigrants with their neighborhood resources as well as remove barriers to integration.