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Hong Kong nationalism (Chinese:香港民族主義 or香港主義) is a system of thought that spans thefolklore,culture,history,geography,society, andpolitics ofHong Kong. It reflects a strong desire to protect democracy in Hong Kong, to oppose mainlandization, and to preserve local Hong Kong identity.[2] As such, many Hong Kong nationalists are opposed toChinese state nationalism (中國國家主義).[3]
Hong Kong nationalism is generally considered a new phenomenon. Theself-identification of theHong Kong people became considered as nationalism when local discourse developed claims of self-determination, autonomy and varying degrees of separation from China.[4]
Tens of thousands of people moved to Hong Kong in 1949 to escape theChinese Communist Revolution. The population of Hong Kong increased from 1.8 million in 1947 to 2.2 million in 1951. As many mainland Chinese fled to Hong Kong over the next 30 years, the population of Hong Kong increased by 1 million every 10 years. Those who experienced hunger and political struggle under theChinese Communist Party (CCP) internalized strongeranti-communist sentiments than Hong Kongers who didn't experience CCP rule.[5]
A distinct sense of Hong Kong identity existed since the 1970s, but Hong Kong nationalist sentiment didn't significantly appear until theTiananmen massacre of 1989.[4] Both the Tiananmen massacre and thepro-democracy movement in colonial Hong Kong strengthened feelings of division between Hong Kong andmainland China.[4]
Since the 2010s, the Hong Kong nationalist movement has emerged as the "localist camp".[6]
In the mid-20th century,anti-colonial Hong Kong nationalism was critical ofBritish imperialism. It distinguished itself fromChinese nationalism and advocated for regional characteristics such asCantonese.[4]
In the 21st century, however, some Hong Kong nationalists began to romanticizeBritish Hong Kong as a consequence of their antipathy towards the mainland Chinese government.[3]
The Hong Kong independence movement is one part of Hong Kong nationalism. Hong Kong independence activists reject the doctrine of "one country, two systems" (一國兩制) and instead support "two countries, two systems" (兩國兩制).[1] The Hong Kong independence movement is considered "radical" even within the localist camp.
Some media outlets have criticized the anti-mainland China sentiment that exists inside Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, in part for its provocation ofChinese nationalists among themainland population. Some have claimed that this enablesChinese Communist Party leadership to reap political gains through a hardline stance.[7]
On 1 July 2019, a group of protesters stormed the legislative council, graffitied it with political slogans and calls for reform, and placed a British Hong Kong colonial flag on the central podium-the ultimate statement of Hong Kong nationalism, or at least opposition to Chinese state nationalism.
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