L2: HK Identity
1. Historical Emergence of HK Identity after the 1950s – An Overview
The Context: Changes after the 1950s:
Birth of People’s Republic of China (PRC), as led by the communist party, in 1949 – giving rise
to increasing ideological, political & socio-economic differences from HK
{Global context: the Cold War ideology of “liberalism/ capitalism versus communism”}
Introduction of border control in HK in the early 1950s, followed by the first distribution of ID
cards, because of large influx of Chinese immigrants from the mainland [later lectures]
Internal changes within the society – demographic (population growth; changing proportion
between local-born and mainland-born populations), economic, social, political & cultural
changes since the 1960s [Today’s Lecture: cultural development]
Significant events: the riots in 1966 and 1967 were the most significant events – changing roles
& policies of the government after the riots, e.g. civic campaign, provision of public housing
[later lectures]. [For reference, you may read #4 Turner & Ngan eds. (1995), pp 80-83, 13-34.]
II. Cultural Formation: Growth of Popular Culture & Localization of Culture (1950s-70s)
1. Arts & Cultural Activities in the Early Days
Before 1950, freedom of movement across the border & free development of popular &
literary culture in the region of Pearl River Delta (e.g. Cantonese opera; literary writers e.g.
魯迅、張愛玲、蕭紅 & literary clubs; drama; movies etc.)
Government policy on cultural development before & during the 1950s: laissez faire
- To assume neutrality amidst competing ideologies between the left & the right;
- Free development of popular culture but no government subsidy;
- Limited arts development for the European upper class (HK Festival of the Arts - 1954)
2. Cultural Policy after the 1950s: Positive Non-interventionism (reactive policy):
- “Art” viewed as decorative – no separate department in charge of culture (under Urban Council)
- City Hall (1962): a new icon of modernity ---
Cultural development by the government was still oriented to high arts, especially performing
arts -- culture as a civilizing process -- but the City Hall also opened up more opportunities for
popular arts. (legacy for today)
- After the riots in mid-60s, the government used culture as a means of stabilizing society. It
adopted a functional approach to culture & arts: for leisure & entertainment (recreational
culture). Examples included the HK Arts Festival (1973) & the International Film Festival
(1974), which were elite-driven & showed an emphasis on Western (vs. local/ indigenous) arts.
- Free development of the market (popular culture)
3. Development of Popular Culture – The Growth of the Mass Media Industry after the 1960s
Until early 20thC, popular leisure was mainly in the form of traditional Chinese folk culture while
the mass media industry was at a budding stage. The 1950s & 1960s marked a new development
when the influx of Chinese immigrants brought about (a) inflow of capital - material & cultural -
& (b) market potentials. (A non-cable TV broadcasting was established in 1967.) The 1970s
witnessed a great expansion of local mass culture in TV series, popular songs, movies & press etc.
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