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The Rise of Hong Kong Identity and Political Mobilisations Vis-A-Vis China, 1949-1997 Pak Kin Kent Wan {BA, MPA, MA}

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The Rise of Hong Kong Identity and Political Mobilisations Vis-A-Vis China, 1949-1997 Pak Kin Kent Wan {BA, MPA, MA} The Rise of Hong Kong Identity and Political Mobilisations vis-a-vis China, 1949-1997 Pak Kin Kent Wan {BA, MPA, MA} A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2018 School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry ii Abstract The emergence of a Hong Kong identity was neither sudden nor preordained; instead, it was a gradual historical process, one that was decades in the making and the climax of which witnessed some of the most consequential political mobilisations in the history of modern China. This dissertation charts transformations in Hong Kong from 1949 to 1997 concerning how men and women there interpreted their relationships with Great Britain, the People Republic of China (PRC), and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the ruling Chinese political organisation the partisans of which were always eager to recruit new supporters in the city. This project analyses how Chinese in Hong Kong evolved from sojourners in the city during the immediate postwar era, to members of a settled population who viewed the colony as their permanent home, and finally to engaged citizens who were willing and able to participate in protests or popular campaigns to defend what they perceived to be the interests of their Hong Kong. This dissertation examines how acts of oppression and injustices that occurred within the context of everyday life served as building blocks for political protests. Differing opinions regarding whether Hong Kong Chinese should be loyal to the regime in control of mainland China similarly led to political confrontations between pro-PRC partisans and local activists who were unconvinced that their Chineseness was dependent upon loyalty to Beijing. Replying upon interviews with witness to and participants of momentous events in the city’s past and utilising archival sources, this PhD thesis illustrates how the rise of a sense of belonging among Chinese in Hong Kong was inextricably tied with the development of the city’s ‘culture of protest’, as controversies that arose out of tensions between the local population and Beijing only highlighted that the soon-to-be-former British colony was and would likely continue to be a unique entity within the PRC even after 1997. iii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, financial support and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my higher degree by research candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis and have sought permission from co-authors for any jointly authored works included in the thesis. iv Publications included in this thesis A draft version of the first chapter of this thesis was presented at the International Symposium on the Studies of Hong Kong's History and Society that was organised by Chu Hai College, Hong Kong Baptist University, and Hong Kong Museum of History. The conference paper was subsequently published. See Kent Wan,‘Postwar Hong Kong: Trials, Tribulations, and the Emergence of a Local Identity, 1949 to 1966’, in Lu feng gu jin: Xianggang lishi wenhua lun ji 鑪峰古今: 香港歷史文化論集, 2016, eds. by Xiao Guojian 蕭國健 and You Zi'an 游子安 (Xianggang: Zhuhai xue yuan Xianggang li shi wen hua yan jiu zhong xin, Chu ban, 2016), pp. 154-184.I was the sole author or this publication. Contributor Statement of contribution Pak Kin Kent Wan (Candidate) Conception and design (100%) Analysis and interpretation (100%) Drafting and production (100%) Submitted manuscripts included in this thesis No manuscripts submitted for publication. Other publications during candidature Wan, Kent. Review of Xianggang zhaoshangjiu qiyi 60 zhounian (1950-2010) (60th Anniversary of the China Merchants’ Company’s Insurrection in Hong Kong, 1950- 2010), Guojia hanghai 国家航海 / National Maritime Research, Vol. 19 (2017), pp. 150- 156 Wan, Kent and Chenchen Wang. ‘An Examination of Brisbane’s Chinatown and Chinese Communities: A Summary of Professor David Ip’s Presentation on 15th May, 2018’, UQ History Seminars, 15 May 2018, pp. 1-3 <https://hapi.uq.edu.au/files/10998/davisiptalk%%203.pdf> Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree No works submitted towards another degree have been included in this thesis. Research Involving Human or Animal Subjects v This thesis utilises oral interviews. The ethics clearance approval letter is included in the appendix. The ethics clearance application was approved by Dr. David Pritchard on behalf of School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry on December 23rd, 2016. vi Acknowledgements While this PhD project has truly been a labour of love, it was made possible through the generosity of friends, family, and mentors whom I met over the course of this amazing journey. With the exception of my parents, the two persons who have helped me the most are Professors Chi-Kong Lai and Andrew Bonnell. Professor Lai has been the best supervisor any PhD student could have hoped for, and he will be the role model for me to emulate for the rest of my academic career. Professor Bonnell has been the embodiment of patience, integrity, and decency. I left a group of amazing friends in Toronto to begin my PhD journey in Brisbane. Theo, who will be getting married this September, is not my friend; he is my brother. Jiayi helped me booked my first flight to Brisbane; in a sense, my PhD journey was made possible by her. I still remember in 2014, when I was so tired and burnt out that I wanted to give up on my dream of obtaining a PhD, it was the music of Tali that inspired me to continue. I still listen to her music when I am stressed out, and I cannot wait to hear more of her work. James, Esther, Elaine, Matt, Susu, Michelle and Kaya are the core members of my French group in Toronto; my friendship with them has always sustained me. My uncle Tony, and members of his family, have hosted me repeatedly in their home. It is always wonderful to return to Hong Kong knowing that I am supported by this wonderful man and his amazing family. My dad is the person who instilled in me the love of reading. It was the books he brought for me from China that got me interested in China studies. Through her example, my mother taught me how to me kind, generous, and understanding towards others; these character traits have allowed me to be a good interviewer when conducting field works for this dissertation. My little sister’s flair for self-promotion has taught me the importance of selling oneself, especially when applying for grants! I was supported by numerous men and women of Hong Kong who were witnesses to or participants of the city’s political conflicts. Political figures like Albert Ho, Martin Lee, and Jasper Tsang took time out of their busy schedules to assist me in my project. Albert Ko (高兆 楨), Xu Yun Cheng (許雲程), Huang Liangying (黃良英), and Chen Shi Yuan (陳仕源), all members of the pro-PRC camp, were generous with their time and highly supportive of my project, our political differences notwithstanding. Their integrity and determination to uphold historical truth transcend any partisan allegiance. vii Financial support This thesis was partially supported by the National Library of Australia’s Asia Study Grant Keywords China studies, Hong Kong studies, popular mobilisations, identity formation, nationalism Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 210302, Asian History, 100% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2103, historical studies, 100% viii Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1-34 Postwar Hong Kong: Trials, Tribulations, and the Emergence of a Local Identity, 1949 to 1966......................................................................... 35-85 The 1967 Riots: Chinese Nationalism, Colonialism, and Everyday Resistance in Hong Kong .................................................................................... 86-126 Protests, Student Activism, and the Conflicts between Local Identity and Chinese Nationalism in Hong Kong, 1967-1979 ..............................................................
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