Property disputes demolish family values

• Source: Global Times
• [00:55 January 25 2010]
• Comments

Shi Hanbing, a real estate market commentator, said in a lighter vein, during a program on Guangdong Satellite TV last October that owning a "house will probably soon become a religion in China.” In Shi's words, present-day China is witnessing fanatic worship of house as property. Buying a house is the ultimate dream of young people.

A man's ownership of a house puts in the shade all his defects and deficiencies. And, some middle-aged people are propelled by the urge to buying a house for the next generation when they haven't cleared the loans availed for the one in which they are living.

Some say it is high time that the Chinese ended this obsessive value they attach to house ownership. This isn't practical, as many feel a great need to own a house.

However, when property disputes make us break with relatives and friends, it is time to reflect on what has gone wrong with the long-cherished Chinese family values.