Hong Kong is still predominantly a Chinese society, but it can hardly be characterized as a traditional Confucian society in which filial piety is the central factor in the maintenance of a stable hierarchical social order. Industrialization and urbanization since World War II has meant a rapid decline in informal family-based systems of control, although filial piety continues to have a strong influence in Hong Kong society. Hong Kong's juvenile justice system emerged fully developed in 1932 when the Juvenile Offenders Ordinance established juvenile courts and probation officers to deal with juvenile offenders. Rapid economic development and the lack of an underclass has meant that crime has not been made a political issue. Instead, crime is usually seen as being committed by deviant individuals. A corporatist model of juvenile justice has remained in place since the system was established. Youth have declined as a proportion of the population; juvenile delinquency has increased but is probably far less serious than widely believed. Crime reporting has increased; in addition, most delinquency involves relatively minor offenses. The resumption of Chinese sovereignty over Hong Kong in July 1997 should not produce any significant changes in juvenile justice in Hong Kong. Figures, table, and 41 references