Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Are we becoming more Chinese?

On a spectrum of identity as follows: “Hongkoner” – “HK first, Chinese second” – “Chinese first, HK second” – “Chinese”, Where would you place yourself?

According to poll published in the South China Morning Post today (13th June, 2007), 5% less Hong Kong teenagers identify themselves as “HKer”, the number for “HK first” remains the same, the number for “Chinese first” increased by 6%, and the number for “Chinese” is more or less the same. Overall there is a rise in Chinese identity among the young.

Some attributed this effect to civic education. Do you agree? Do you think the national flag raising ceremony and national anthem being sung at school have enhanced the sense of belonging? Call me cynical, but I tend to think the strength of the mainland economy probably have more to do with it. And possibly that fact that more of our teenagers were born in the mainland?

The pool also revealed, interestingly, that while more said they were proud to be Chinese, they also tended not to establish good relationships with mainlanders. And most said Hong Kong people were superior to mainlanders.

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

同意, 經濟絕對有關.

六四給港人的陰影始終很大...每升起國旗我都會諗起共產黨, 有點矛盾的情感.

Anonymous said...

I agree.
Somehow China equates the Communist Party, and that's why we (some of us) hesitate identifying ourselves being Chinese. Such a "wrong" concept has actually been taught and thrust down our throats continually: if you don't agree with some policies or doings of the government, then you are unpatriotic... Throughout our long history, people who loved China enough dared to speak up and die for her, to raise awareness that our country could be better and greater. The June 4 students are patriots, and so are those who remember June 4 with a heavy heart.

StephenC said...

Yes, very much so.
Most of us are born into a country. But we should be able to choose to like/join one political party or the other. Some people, however, insist that China must have only one party. Worse, they forbid others not to like this party. Even criticism is forbidden. That many of us refuse to accept.

tabbycat said...

Totally. As Clinton put it during his campaign, "it's the economy, stupid".

If China is doing well, more people are proud to be associated with it. Do another June 4th and see how many people are still proud of being Chinese.

Anonymous said...

Some pro-communist people keep asking Hong Kong people to understand the mainland more, and to trust the mainland government more.

They don't seem to realize that it is because Hong Kong people think we understand the communist government too well. That many Hong Kong people feel past deeds such as the June 4th make it hard to trust the government.