British Influence as a Factor of Forming the Modern Identity of Hong Kong

In: Izvestiya of Altai State University, Heft 6(116), S. 46-50

Abstract

The article considers the process of forming the modern identity of Hong Kong and proves underlying role of the British influence in this process. It is pointed out that the process goes back to the 19th century, when well-off Chinese started to move to the British Hong Kong in trying to find more comfortable conditions for life and business and reaches its pinnacle in 1970-1980, when Hong Kong not only becomes economically developed but transforms into a factor of cultural influence in the region mainly due to the promotion of its original (civilization-state) pop-culture. It's stated that Hongkongers use cultural and semiotic resources to emphasize specificity of their cultural code. And particularly these kinds of resources played the biggest role in this process. Authors conclude that the British influence was one of the structural factors which determined the nature and contents of Hong Kong's identity. At the same time, they note that the process of its forming is based on evolved for centuries Chinese national tradition which contains self-preserving mechanisms which make it possible for Hongkongers to interpret external cultural drawings in a unique way.