Asia-Pacific News

Half of Hong Kong young people believe running up debts acceptable

Sep 23, 2009, 3:30 GMT

Hong Kong - More than half of Hong Kong's young people think there is nothing wrong with running up debts, a survey published Wednesday found. Fifty-four per cent of the 1,246 people aged 11 to 21 questioned for the poll thought it acceptable to borrow money from friends and family. The Federation of New Territories Youth, which carried out the survey in June and July, said the results indicated youngsters 'have developed the habit of borrowing money even before they learn how to earn a living.' A separate survey on young people's spending habits found that 3 per cent of young people saw robbery or prostitution as an acceptable means of getting cash. It also highlighted cases of 15-year-olds given credit cards by their parents and spending on average 1,200 US dollars a month. The surveys have sparked calls for a government crackdown on advertisements offering loans in the former British colony.

Asia-Pacific News

Half of Hong Kong young people believe running up debts acceptable

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