Abstract
The importance of public opinion in debates over institutional reform can scarcely be underestimated. Yet research in Hong Kong, particularly into politically oriented public opinion, was seldom pursued until the 1980s. This is perhaps a consequence of the widespread perception that the Hong Kong Chinese are politically apathetic. In The Government and Politics of Hong Kong, the current standard textbook, Norman Miners opened his chapter on ‘Chinese Attitudes and British Rule’ by commenting, ‘During the years from the end of the Second World War to the early 1980s the vast majority of the Chinese population of Hong Kong were completely apathetic to the business of government and showed no desire to participate in any form of political activity’ (Miners, 1991, p. 32; Lau and Kuan, 1988, p. 70). Ian Scott also noted ‘... the Hong Kong public has traditionally distanced itself from politics and from government’ (Kwok, Leung and Scott, 1992, p. 21). However, at least since 1989, when nearly a million Hong Kong residents twice marched in the streets in protest at the events in Tiananmen Square, scholars have acknowledged that many, if not most, Hong Kong people have changed from passive objects of dispute between London and Beijing into active participants in the debates over their future.1 Ming Chan has noted, for example, that, as a consequence of Tiananmen, Hong Kong people ‘were transformed almost overnight from apolitical and apathetic residents of a colony to citizens of a threatened community committed to preserve their freedom and fight for their rights’ (M. K. Chan, 1991, p. 18). While this overstates the reality of both the so-called apolitical past and of the present, Chinese officials have made persistent attacks over the ‘politicizing’ of Hong Kong, accusing the British of making it a‘political city’ (South China Morning Post (SCMP), 7 October 1993; Guo, 1994, pp. 14–16; Zhou, 1994, pp. 16–17).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
American Academy of Political and Social Science, (1995) ‘The Role of Public Opinion in Public Administration’, Annals, January.
Barone, M. and Ujifusa, G. (1991) The Almanac of American Politics 1992, National Journal, Washington.
Burns, J. P. (1990) ‘The Structure of Communist Party Control in Hong Kong’, Asian Survey, August.
Chan, K. C. (1993) ‘History’ in P. K. Choi and L. S. Ho (eds) The Other Hong Kong Report 1993, Chinese University Press, Hong Kong.
Chan, M. K. (1991) ‘Democracy Derailed’ in M. K. Chan and D. J. Clark (eds), The Hong Kong Basic Law: ‘Blueprint for Stability’ and Prosperity under Chinese Sovereignty?, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Chan, M. K. (1994) ‘Hong Kong in Sino-British Conflict : Mass Mobilization and the Crisis of Legitimacy in Hong Kong’ in M. K. Chan and J. D. Young (eds) Precarious Balance: Hong Kong Between Britain and China 1842–1992, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Chan, M. K. and Clark, D. J. (1991)(eds) The Hong Kong Basic Law: ‘Blueprint for Stability and Prosperity under Chinese Sovereignty? Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Chang, D. (1996) Letter, Eastern Express, 13 April.
Davis, M. C. (1989) Constitutional Confrontation in Hong Kong, Macmillan, London.
DeGolyer, M. E. (1994) ‘Politics, Politicians and Political Parties’ in D. H. McMillen and S. W. Man (eds) The Other Hong Kong Report, Chinese University Press, Hong Kong.
DeGolyer, M. E., and Scott, J. L. (1996) ‘The Myth of Political Apathy’, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, September.
Economist, The, 18 March 1995
Endacott, G. B. (1964) Government and People in Hong Kong 1841–1962, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Fung, H. L. (1995) ‘Why and How People Protest in Hong Kong’, paper delivered to Chinese Society Social Indicators Conference, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Ghai, Y. (1991) ‘The Past and the Future of Hong Kong’s Constitution’, China Quarterly, No. 128, December.
Ghai, Y. (1993) ‘The Constitutional Framework for the Transition of Hong Kong’, in ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Economic Research Institute, Hong Kong in Transition.
Guo, F. M. (1994) ‘The JLG’s Progress’, Window, Hong Kong, 11 November.
Harris, P. (1978) Hong Kong: A Study in Bureaucracy and Politics, Macmillan, London.
Hong, Y. Y. (1995) ‘Social Identification in the Face of Political Transition : the Case of 1997’ in M. E. DeGolyer (ed.) Countdown to 1997: Hong Kong in Transition, mimeo, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Annual Reports (1983) (1990–95) Government Printer, Hong Kong.
Kuan, H. C. (1996) ‘Escape from Politics : Hong Kong’s Predicament of Political Development?’ paper delivered at a conference on Political Development in Taiwan and Hong Kong, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Kwok, R. Y. F., Leung, J. Y. H. and Scott, I. (eds) (1992) Votes Without Power: The Hong Kong Legislative Council Elections, 1991, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Lam, S. F. (1995) ‘Social Identity of Hong Kong Adolescents’ in M. E. DeGolyer (ed.) Countdown to 1997: Hong Kong in Transition, mimeo, Hong Kong.
Lau Chan, K. C. (1994) ‘Hong Kong in Sino-British Diplomacy 1926–1945’, in M. K. Chan and J. D. Young (ed.) Precarious Balance: Hong Kong Between Britain and China 1842–1992, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Lau, S. K. (1982) Society and Politics in Hong Kong, Chinese University Press, Hong Kong.
Lau, S. K. and Kuan, H. C. (1988) The Ethos of the Hong Kong Chinese, Chinese University Press, Hong Kong.
Lethbridge, H. J. (1985) Hard Graft in Hong Kong, Oxford University Press, Hong Kong.
Litton, H. (1993) ‘The Common Law in Transition’ in ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Economic Research Institute, Hong Kong in Transition,
Lo, S. H. (1994) ‘The Communist Party Elite’s Conflict over Hong Kong 1982–1990’, China Information, Spring.
Lo, S. H. and McMillen, D. H. (1995) ‘A Profile of the “Pro-China Hong Kong Elite” : Images and Perceptions’, Issues and Studies, June.
Lo, T. W. (1993) Corruption and Politics in Hong Kong and China, Open University, Buckingham.
Miners, N. (1991) The Government and Politics of Hong Kong, 5th edn, Oxford University Press, Hong Kong.
Ming Pao, 11 May 1995.
Palumbo, P. (1991) ‘Analysis of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Hong Kong : What do they Guarantee the People of Hong Kong after 1997?’ Connecticut Journal of International Law, Spring.
SCMP (South China Morning Post) 7 October 1993; 11 May 1995.
Siu, H. F. (1996) ‘Remade in Hong Kong: Weaving into the Chinese Cultural Tapestry’ in T. T. Liu and D. Faure (eds), Unity and Diversity: Local Cultures and Identities in China, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Skeldon, R. (1995) Emigration from Hong Kong, Chinese University Press, Hong Kong.
Tang, J. T. H. (1994) ‘World War to Cold War : Hong Kong’s Future and Anglo-Chinese Interactions, 1941–1955’ in M. K. Chan and J. D. Young (eds) Precarious Balance: Hong Kong Between Britain and China 1842–1992, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Tsai, J. F. (1993) Hong Kong in Chinese History, Columbia University Press, New York.
Welsh, F. (1993) A History of Hong Kong, Harper Collins, London.
Young, J. D. (1994) ‘The Building Years: Maintaining a China-Hong Kong-Britain equilibrium’ in M. K. Chan and J. D. Young (eds) Precarious Balance: Hong Kong Between Britain and China 1842–1992, Hong Kong University Press, Hong Kong.
Thou, N. (1994) ‘Leave the System Alone’, Window, Hong Kong, 18 November.
Zhou, W. (1993) ‘Changes to sources of Hong Kong law and their authoritative hierarchy under “One Country and Two Systems” ’ in ‘One Country, Two Systems’ Economic Research Institute, Hong Kong in Transition, Hong Kong.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1998 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
DeGolyer, M.E. (1998). Public Opinion on Hong Kong’s Transition. In: Scott, I. (eds) Institutional Change and the Political Transition in Hong Kong. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26296-0_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26296-0_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-26298-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-26296-0
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)