A representative sample of Hong Kong Chinese children was followed from 7 to 12 years of age. Refractive error was measured every year (n = 123 at age 7 years and n = 83 at age 12 years), the axial length of the eye was measured at age 12 years (n = 81) and the refractive status of the parents was also determined. Thirty-one percent of the parents in the sample were myopic and at the age of 12 years 53% of the children were myopic. There was no association between the refractive status of the parents and whether or not a child had myopia. The probability of a 12-year-old child with early-onset myopia having at least one myopic parent was 0.55 and the probability of myopic parents having a myopic child was 0.6. There was no difference in the refractive error or the axial length of 12-year-old children according to whether neither, one or both parents were myopic. The genetic influence on myopia may be different in Caucasian and Chinese children, although it is also possible that non-expression of the genotype in the parents may have confounded the determination of the inheritance pattern of myopia in Hong Kong Chinese children.