Place and Culture in Identity Construction and Negotiation: The Case of Hong Kong by Carmut Me B.Sc. University of California at Davis, 2010 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DUAL DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ASIA PACIFIC POLICY STUDIES AND MASTER OF ARTS IN PLANNING in The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies The University of British Columbia (Vancouver) December, 2017 ©Carmut Me, 2017 Abstract Identity, a contested subject in postcolonial and global cities, is discussed in this thesis as a construct that is represented in the processes of cultural production and consumption of “places”. The postcolonial global city is where identities and cultures blend and contradict, and also where new identities and cultures arise. Portrayed as a space of “in-between” - not entirely “Western” nor exclusively Chinese, Hong Kong demonstrates the complexities of multiple global cultural flows mixing with local and national aspirations of identity. Exactly at a time when the new government and citizens are grasping the identity and culture that is unique to Hong Kong, it threatens to “disappear” in a political and cultural sense (Abbas, 1997). The struggles to define Hong Kong’s identity are exemplified in the outcomes and negotiations of the city’s spatial processes – urban development, renewal, and heritage preservation. Two cases in the cultural production of space are investigated. As studies in contrast: the grand development of the to-be international arts destination West Kowloon Cultural District that symbolizes Hong Kong’s global aspiration, and the local residents’ struggle for the preservation of Wing Lee Street representing the values of Hong Kong’s working class. The narratives of identity projected by those in power (elites, states, markets) are found to contradict with how Hong Kong people identify themselves and their city, and these contradictions are demonstrated in the place negotiations in the city. ii Lay Summary The identity of Hong Kong is shown in its unique places and culture, but this identity is mixed and complex. Hong Kong is going through a time of change that is sparked by the city’s reunion with China. While the Government of Hong Kong tries to keep Hong Kong’s status in the world by creating world-class arts facilities, local people want to protect familiar places that they connect with. The two cases in this study are the development of West Kowloon Cultural District and the protection of Wing Lee Street. By exploring these two contrasting cases, I show how the creation of new places and the protection of old places can disrupt or strengthen the identity of a city and its residents. iii Preface This thesis is an original work by Carmut Me. No part of this thesis has been previously published. iv Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... ii Lay Summary ............................................................................................................................ iii Preface ........................................................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... vii List of Abbreviations .......................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ ix Chapter 1 .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Scope and Research Questions .............................................................................................. 6 1.3 Method ........................................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Limitations ................................................................................................................................ 13 1.5 Organization of This Thesis ................................................................................................. 14 Chapter 2 Understanding Identity, Culture and Place ............................................. 17 2.1 The Reflexive Relationship Between Place and Identity ........................................... 17 2.2 Reading the City ....................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.1 Spatial forms, symbolism and cultural identity ................................................................... 19 2.2.2 Memory, heritage and symbolism in the everyday spaces .............................................. 21 2.3 Multiplicity, Tensions and Contestations ........................................................................ 23 2.3.1 Place and power; counter-hegemonic place-making ......................................................... 24 v Chapter 3 Globalization and Cultural Cities ................................................................ 28 3.1 Globalization: Effects on Urban Spaces and Identity ................................................... 29 3.2 Cultural Cities in the Context of Globalization .............................................................. 33 3.3 Contradictions in the Cultural City .................................................................................... 35 Chapter 4 Hong Kong: Identity, Culture and Space ................................................... 40 4.1 The “Hong Kong Success Story” and Dominant Narratives ....................................... 40 4.2 Dismantling Dominant Narratives .................................................................................... 45 4.3 A Search for Identity Amidst Transformation ............................................................... 48 Chapter 5 Crafting 21st Century Hong Kong as “Asia’s World City” ...................... 52 5.1 A New Identity .......................................................................................................................... 52 5.2 West Kowloon Cultural District .......................................................................................... 55 Chapter 6 Contesting Identities, Nostalgia and Making Heritage ......................... 61 6.1 Post-97 Heritage Preservation Movement ..................................................................... 61 6.2 Wing Lee Street ........................................................................................................................ 63 Chapter 7 ................................................................................................................................. 73 7.1 Conclusions and Implications ............................................................................................. 73 7.2 Challenges and Recommendations for Policy and Planning Practice ................... 75 7.3 Recommendations for Further Research ........................................................................ 79 7.4 Final Remarks ........................................................................................................................... 81 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 83 vi List of Figures Figure 1. Aerial view of WCKD project under construction, on 40 hectares of prime waterfront land ....................................................................................................................... 56 Figure 2. Architectural rendering of M+ modern art museum ..................................... 58 Figure 3. Map of Wing Lee Street (URA) ................................................................................ 66 Figure 4. Scene in “Echoes of the Rainbow” depicting 1960s working class lifestyle and the outdoor terrace of Wing Lee Street. .............................................................. 68 Figure 5. The original tong-lau structures before restoration ..................................... 68 Figure 6. Restored tong-lau buildings in 2011 .................................................................... 72 vii List of Abbreviations DEVB Development Bureau Government, the The Government of Hong Kong HAB Home Affairs Bureau HKSAR Hong Kong Special Administrative Region PRC People’s Republic of China URA Urban Renewal Authority WKCD West Kowloon Cultural District viii Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Thomas Hutton, my insightful and encouraging supervisor whose thoughtful and constructive criticism furthered my intellectual pursuit; without his guidance, it would have been impossible to complete this endeavour. His enthusiasm, patience and kindness, from start to finish, through the many iterations of this paper and sessions with cappuccinos and doughnuts are tremendously appreciated. I would like to extend warmest thanks to Dr. Leonora Angeles, who provided me with unwavering support and invaluable