A Polarized Hong Kong: “One Country,” or “Two Systems”?

Abstract

During the 2019-20 protests, many observers asked how Hong Kong reached such a level of political polarization. For much of its history, Hong Kong has been an apolitical society with materialist values and little desire for democratic reform.

Given the societal changes under British colonial rule, there was an implicit understanding that Hong Kong and the mainland were different. However, the Tiananmen Square Incident deepened Hong Kong residents’ perceptions and identity differentiation from mainland China. However, the aftermath of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis made these emerging differentiations visible within society. Following the ‘Financial Tsunami,’ a group of individuals began to feel disenfranchised and resisted integration with the mainland. Following 2008, a declining political trust characterized these grievances, stemming from the lack of promised democratic reform under ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and cultural incompatibility with the increasing presence of mainlanders in the city. The collective identity of this group became increasingly distant from mainland China. My thesis examines how an apolitical society became so polarized that families were arguing at dinner during Chinese New Year celebrations, and people were burning themselves in the streets. The identity of being a ‘Hong Konger,’ as opposed to Hong Kong Chinese or Chinese, eventually became politicized. Hong Kong’s distinct identity and values became a central issue in political conflicts, particularly in response to mainland China’s influence and policy changes. These conflicts polarized society by amplifying divisions based on political values and cultural identifications. My thesis demonstrates how economic instability, cultural dissonance, societal values changes, and political aspirations polarized Hong Kong’s populace.

To substantiate my qualitative narrative, I use public opinion surveys to provide empirical evidence for the relationships between Hong Kong’s politicized identity and the emerging societal divides. Additionally, I provide a comparative analysis with Taiwan and Macau to demonstrate that the political polarization in Hong Kong is influenced by its own set of historical and cultural dynamics.