ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the demographic characteristics of the lone-parent families in Hong Kong. It examines the economic circumstances of lone mothers as a way of providing some understanding of their dependence upon social security benefits. The weak economic circumstances of lone mothers resulting from their low earning power and low level of maintenance may lead to dependence upon social security benefits. Regarding the income level of lone mothers on social security benefits, the incomes of the Public Assistance lone-parent families were very low in general. There are three major research studies on lone-parent families in Hong Kong namely, Young's study, Christian Family Service Centre's study, and Law and Family Welfare Society's study. They have all used the same age criterion of children in the lone-parent families, 'age 15 or below of children in the single-parent families'. The monthly incomes of lone mothers are not only lower than those of the coupled families, but also lower than the lone fathers'.
