Family Violence in Hong Kong

1292 Words6 Pages
The Tin Shui Wai Family Tragedy in 2004 caused a great sensation in Hong Kong. This paper is on the basis of the movie “Night and Fog” (2009), which based on that murder case, to identify the power involved and discuss the causes of these power relations in this case. In the movie, Kam is a Mainlander who is brought to Hong Kong by her elderly husband Lee and they have two daughters. Lee is unemployed and does not active to go out to look for a job. He himself is living by the money what gets form social welfare but compels Kam to give up her waitress job because the age gap between them make Lee constantly suspected his wife is unfaithful. All these make Lee gradually depressive and irascible. He eventually batter and rape Kam, until Kam be conscious of his husband will directly threatens her and children’s life. After once she expelled by Lee, she goes to find district council asks for help and be arranged to enter a hostel for women with her children. However, the social workers are not really helpful and do not realize how harsh of situation the family is in. She back to home and go to shelter back and forth. Once, two of them have an argument, Kam injured and was sent to hospital. Finally she goes back to mainland but Lee finds her and intimidates Kam he will threaten two daughters if she does not back to Hong Kong. Kam worried about the safety of two daughters and want to pick up them. Moreover, Kam’s mother and the police also want Kam resolve her disputes with her husband and accept that her problems with Lee are absolutely normal for a married couple, have not given her substantial assistance and protection. Kam’s situation actually endangers her and her daughters ‘life. Ultimately Lee kills his wife and daughters, and then commits suicide. The above case evolve into tragedy, is a result of use of power. According to Weber’s classic definition, power is
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