Liu Xiaobo once said: China “would require 300 years as a colony” to transform into a modern society. Indeed Hong Kong and Singapore are one of the few cities for what some might call “colonialism gone right”. In this post I will try to explain how Hong Kong society embraces colonialism and turns it into a way of life. (I am not advocating if colonialism is right or wrong but merely an observation of what has happened in Hong Kong’s society through 150 years of colonialism.)
First, let’s start with the education system. Hong Kong’s education system closely reflects that of the British and no doubt education will directly affect students’ adulthood. We can see that from the working language of major corporations in Hong Kong from private banks to governmental institutions are all conducted in English. The medium of teaching at universities are in English and people who speak in English are considered to be of “higher class”. To some extreme, “higher class” establishments will only converse with you in English even though both parties are Chinese.
Second, Hong Kong people have an inherit instinct to deviate themselves from mainland China. Whether it is a cultural thing or if they feel more superior, it is evident in society. Ask where they are from, Hong Kong people will always say Hong Kong and not China. (In contrast, if you ask a Beijinger or Shanghainese, he will most likely say he’s from China and not Beijing or Shanghai.)
In my opinion, it’s the little things on how Hong Kong society functions that there seems to be some sort of “pride”, for a lack of better word, that Hong Kong was once a colony of Britain. The above observations are just but a few examples that I feel makes Hong Kong what it is today. It is difficult to describe in words about this phenomenon but to experience it yourself when one is in Hong Kong. It has been more than a decade since China reclaimed sovereignty over Hong Kong but the feel of colonialism is still very much in the air.
Lastly, here are some quotes on colonialism.
"The Cold War is gone. Colonialism is gone. Apartheid is gone. Yet remnants of past troubles remain.”
Bill Clinton
"The liquidation of colonialism is a trend of the times which no force can hold back.”
Kim Jong Il
"I would say colonialism is a wonderful thing. It spread civilization to Africa. Before it they had no written language, no wheel as we know it, no schools, no hospitals, not even normal clothing.”
Ian Smith – First Prime Minister of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
