Civic Localism, Anti-Mainland Localism, and Independence: The Changing Pattern of Identity Politics in post-1997 Hong Kong

• In Event: 3250 - Social and Political Movements in Asia and Asian America

Abstract

This paper traces the changing pattern of identity politics in HKSAR. It shows that in response to the massive urban renewal projects in the 2000s, “civic localism” in the form of cultural preservation movement emerged to protect local community culture and to empower local community members against the government-business hegemony. However, due to the deepening of social integration between Hong Kong and the mainland, a new “anti-mainland localism” in the form of the anti-locust protests emerged in the 2010s to protect Hong Kong resources from being taken away by the influx of mainlanders. In 2015-16, as a result of Beijing’s active and obvious interference in Hong Kong affairs and the failure of the Umbrella Movement, anti-mainland localism is further upgraded to Hong Kong independence. “Pro-independence localism” and localists actively participated in Legco elections and several candidates have even won in the September election. However, seizing upon the Legco swearing in ceremony, Beijing quickly adopted a red line to ban pro-independence activities in the Hong Kong SAR. This paper argues that Beijing’s hardline policy may work in the short run to all push the pro-independence activities underground. Unless the structural contradiction of the HKSAR is resolved, it seems likely that anti-mainland localism and Hong Kong independence sentiment and movement will come back with a vengeance at a later stage.

Authors

• Alvin Y. So, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

• Ping Lam Ip, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology