Hong Kong nationalism (or Chinese: 香港主義) is a system of thought that spans the folklore, culture, history, geography, society, and politics of Hong Kong. Hong Kong nationalism is generally considered a new phenomenon. The self-identification of the Hong Kong people had only been considered nationalism when the local discourse developed claims of self-determination, autonomy and varying degrees of separation from China.
Hong Kong nationalism is a strong desire to protect democracy in Hong Kong, it is values opposition to mainlandization and local Hong Kong identity.[1] Many Hong Kong nationalists are opposed to Chinese state nationalism (中國國家主義).[2]
See also: Localism in Hong Kong. Tens of thousands moved to Hong Kong in 1949 to escape the Chinese Communist Revolution. The population of Hong Kong increased from 1.8 million in 1947 to 2.2 million in 1951. As 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 the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) internalized stronger anti-communist sentiments than Hong Kongers who did not experience CCP rule.[3]
Distinct Hong Kong identity existed from the 1970s, but Hong Kong nationalist sentiment did not appear significantly until the Tiananmen massacre of 1989.[4] The Tiananmen massacre and the pro-democracy movement in colonial Hong Kong strengthened feelings of division between Hong Kong and mainland China.[4]
Since the 2010s, the Hong Kong nationalist movement has emerged as the "localist camp".[5]
In the mid-20th century, anti-colonial Hong Kong nationalism was critical of British imperialism. It distinguished itself from Chinese nationalism and advocated regional characteristics such as Cantonese.[4] Today however, some Hong Kong nationalists romanticize British Hong Kong as a consequence of their antipathy towards the mainland Chinese government.[2]
The Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict and the Umbrella Revolution reminded many Hong Kongers of the February 28 incident and the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan. Some young Hong Kongers have begun to support Hong Kong independence, showing a more favorable attitude towards Taiwanese independence.[6] [7]
See main article: Hong Kong independence. The Hong Kong independence movement is part of Hong Kong nationalism. Hong Kong independence activists reject "one country, two systems" (一國兩制) and support "two countries, two systems" (兩國兩制).[8] The Hong Kong independence movement belongs to the 'radicals' even within the localist camp.
See also: Anti-Chinese sentiment. Some media outlets have criticized the anti-mainland China sentiment that exists inside Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. The more Hong Kong democracy activists employ anti-mainland rhetoric, rather than anti-oppression or anti-autocracy rhetoric, the more they provoke Chinese nationalists among the mainland population. This enables Chinese Communist Party leadership to reap political gains from a hardline stance.[9]
See also: ALLinHK.