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Geert Hofstede.Doc
Based on Geert Hofstede’s research, Hong Kong is a high power distance society. I agree with this analysis. An inequality social hierarchy is instituted in Hong Kong. For example, salary range between Hong Kong’s upper class and lower class is wide. Minimum wage for workers is $30 per hour, but some upper status people can get more than $3000 per hour.1 Besides, the Gini Coefficient of Hong Kong is the highest in the developed countries, since 1981, the coefficient increased continually and reached 0.537 in 2012. 2,3 This great disparity between the rich and the poor can show the inequalities too.

Hofstede’s research mentions that Hong Kong is a collectivist culture. It is same with my opinions. Hong Kong people will show strong cohesion within social groups, especially when disaster occur. Such as the case of Lamma Island ferry collision, people will try to help others rather than look after themselves and their direct family only. Group is considered more important than any one individual by the “in-group” culture in Hong Kong, thus they are expected to take care of their members. Besides, daily eating custom in Hong Kong shows the culture of “sharing” too. Instead of having an own plate of food, our dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares.

Hong Kong is concluded as a masculine society by the Hofstede’s research and I agree with it. In this success oriented country, Hong Kong people trust that they are living to work and it is important to seek success and achievement. Therefore, people will spend many hours to work. The average working hours in Hong Kong is 2,296 hours per year, which ranked the fifth longest yearly working hours among 72 countries under study.4 Also, Hong Kong students care about their exam results since it is the main criteria to achieve success, not because of their interest on study.

In Hofstede’s research, Hong Kong has a low score on uncertainty avoidance. I believe this conclusion is right. Hong Kong

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