The ‘Hong Kong problem’ and the current socio-political climate: the chicken or the egg debate
The article is part of the 'Hong Kong Anti-extradition Demonstrations: One Year Ago Today' initiative which aims to raise awareness for the movement and also to debunk some myths regarding the movement’s origins and core elements.
Due to the article's original length, we have had to split its content over three separate pieces. For a more complete understanding of the discourse surrounding 'Hong Kong Nationalism,' please refer to the links below.
The ‘Hong Kong problem’ and the current socio-political climate: the chicken or the egg debate
Image Source: Felix Wong/SCMP
The recent implementation of the National Security Law was an arguable trigger to another immigration wave. On the day of its announcement dramatic increased in searches for ‘immigration’ was recorded by the google search engine. Whilst its temptation remains as pervasive now as it was two decades ago, Hong Kong’s national identification has differed massively from its historic form and this owes credit to the changes in the city’s socio-political climate as characterised by the ‘Hong Kong problem’.
The ‘Hong Kong problem’ refers to the root cause of the city’s social unrest. Over the last two decades, the city has witnessed a series of social conflicts over issues such as competition for school entry quotas and milk powder scandals, most of which saw clashes between ‘New Immigrants’ and members of the local community. Closer analysis reveals that events relating to promotions of ‘One China’ have repeatedly brought about clashes in Hong Kong’s society. Whilst this identity was predetermined by its historic past, the escalation of social conflicts into the current climate of social unrest suggests that conflicting interests are no longer result of cultural differences but a contradiction with local interests and Hong Kong’s ‘core values.’
The ‘political chaos’ that has often been blamed for worsening the socio-political climate becomes unfounded as it was arguably not until the concluding chapter of the 2014 Umbrella Movement that the term was first coined; making it a striking repercussion of the ‘Hong Kong problem’. Furthermore, it becomes hugely self-explanatory when assessed in relation to the Anti-extradition demonstrations in 2019. Its increased usage as rhetoric for condemnation reflects the strengthened collective identity amongst the people of Hong Kong.
However, it has been commonplace for the government to condemn sentiments of ‘strengthened collective identity’ as displays of ‘separatism’ and its supporters advocating ‘Hong Kong independence’. Under the National Security Law, such expressions are considered a threat to national security and risks arrest. However, there are fundamental reasons as to why ‘Hong Kong nationalism’, as a form of strengthened national identification, cannot be directly equated with ‘Hong Kong independence’.
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Editors' Note: As a blanket disclaimer for the entire ‘Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Demonstrations: One Year Ago Today’ initiative, we will not be disclosing the identities of any of the contributors to the initiative. We thank everyone who has submitted a piece of their own work and we apologise for not being able to openly accredit you for your contributions.