The number of Hong Kong men who keep concubines in Guangzhou and Shenzhen has been rapidly rising in the past few years.
According to the Social Welfare Department, in 1994 the Caritias Family Service Centre dealt with 544 cases of extramarital affairs, of which 130 involved keeping concubines on the Mainland.
In fact, keeping concubines not only affects the harmony of a family, but also threatens traditional monogamy.
Legislative Councillor Eric Li Ka Cheung estimated that the number of children born by concubines in China will have risen to 240,000 by 1997. Their legal status raises public concern.
However, as Varsity staff writer Loretta Ng discovered in recent interviews, Mr. Li's views are not shared by everyone. For example, Dr. Emil Ng Man Lun of the University of Hong Kong holds markedly different views regarding solutions to this problem. We decided to present their views side by side _ Mr. Li's first, then Dr. Ng's.
Mr. Li has been dealing with social welfare services for some time. He suggests making the keeping of concubines illegal. He explains his views in a number of questions put to him by Varsity magazine:
Q: How do you perceive the values of marriage and family?
Li: The family is the basic social unit of society. It serves as a good shelter for the young and the old. Hence, if there is a factor harmful to its well- functioning and completeness, I will definitely oppose that factor.
Q: What is the main concern of your proposal ?
Li:In my proposal, I suggested the government extend the definition of bigamy (bigamy is illegal in Hong Kong) to cover the cases of Hong Kong citizens co-habiting with concubines in China.Hence, the legitmate wives, especially the economically dependent and less educated ones, can be protected.
Q: Why do you think that the public has misinterpreted your proposal?
Li: The media have overgeneralized my proposal. They have simply highlighted the term "criminalization". In fact, I said that the immediate priority of the government is to enforce the provision of public services and education on this matter. Criminalization is just a possible consideration to deal with extreme cases.
Q:Do you think that the measures you suggest will be effective?
Li:Legislation is a long term measure providing an immediate effect. The laws I suggested do not aim at punishment - rather, they serve to remind people of their responsibilities to others. I believe marital loving relationships and mutual respect overweigh personal lust and happiness.
Q: What is the main problem in their execution?
Li:I don't think there is any problem here. Many people worry that it is difficult to enforce the laws outside Hong Kong (since they would be dealing with Mainland concubines also). Yet, we can count on the legimate wives to provide substantial evidence and let the police take action.
Q: What is your reaction to the public's criticisms?
Li:I do not care about harsh criticisms. Maybe it is still too early for them to understand the rationale behind my proposal. I think they need more time and perseverance.
The next series of questions was put to Dr. Emil Ng Man Lun. Dr. Ng is a reader in psychiatry at the University of Hong Kong as well as the vice-president of the Hong Kong Sex Education Association.
He suggests legalization of the act of keeping concubines. He upholds the spirit of a "multi-modal marital system", with no restrictions on the ratio of husbands to wives. He believes that fairness and human rights would be ensured under this system.
Q: How do you perceive the function of marriage?
Ng:It's merely a social norm that requires a man and a woman to get married to strengthen the family cohesion. However, I don't agree that it is a matter of love. In fact, flexible adjustments should be allowed in response to the changes of social values. Though we have had monogamy for centuries, it is time we revised it.
Q: What is the rationale behind your proposal?
Ng: Actually, I am promoting the idea of "multi-modal marital system", which means that any husband- wife ratio should be allowed and legalized. In my opinion, if the ones involved are adults and have consented to such a marital relationship, the govern- ment should respect their wills.
Q: What's wrong with monogamy?
Ng: Owing to the "one-child" policy in China, there is an unbalanced, overwhelming ratio of males to females. It thus becomes difficult for people to find a mate. Therefore, we should make the marital system more flexible to meet the society's need.
Q: What is the merit of you proposal?
Ng: Since the concubines and their children do not possess any legal entitlement, men can leave them without any legal obligation. These dumped women and children would become burdens of society. However, with the legalization, concubines can accuse the unresponsible husbands by laws.
Q: Do you think that the legimate wives would be less priviliged?
Ng: I can't see the problem here. Under the multi-modal marital system, a woman may have more than one husband.It would be more secure for her too. Besides, no matter whether a man is keeping a concu- bine legally, the legimate wife has already been less priviliged. She can choose either to tolerate it or di- vorce her husband.
My proposal at least can offer her more choices: to live together with the concubine or ask for compensation if she disapproves of the relationship.
Q: How do you refute the criticism that your idea is unethical?
Ng: My proposal emphasizes the importance of human rights, anti- discrimination and equity. The family value is still retained, but it appears in a new model.
Q: Do you think that you are acting up for public attention?
Ng: People usually turn their backs to new ideas, for fear that their traditional beliefs are challenged. It is a pity that the public misunderstands my proposal and criticizes me. However, I think that it is my responsibility to be a pioneer and break the norms; otherwise, human beings will experience no fruitful improvement.