7/29/2019 27961613.pdf

1/4

454 China Review International: Vol. , No. , Fall

2007 by Universityof Hawaii Press

Lee Pui-tak, editor. Colonial Hong Kong and Modern China: Interaction

and Reintegration. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2005. xii, 295

pp. Hardcover 49.50, 9622097200.

In 997, the handover of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty marked a new phase

in Hong Kongs history. Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region

(SAR) of China and a quasi-constitution Basic Law was set up to guarantee that

Hong Kong would be ruled under the principle of One Country Two Systems.

In light of these profound social transformations in the late 990s, Colonial Hong

Kong and Modern China asks an interesting question: How have these political

changes affected the analytical perspectives of historians in Hong Kong studies?To students of modern Chinese history, Hong Kong in the late 990s was at a

crossroads of colonialism and nationalism, not knowing which direction to take.

e book under review emphasizes that the histories of Hong Kong and modern

China have been interwoven since Britain colonized Hong Kong. erefore, the

colonial history of Hong Kong can be viewed as important to the nationalistic his-

tory of China, and the nationalistic history of China can be viewed as important

to the colonial history of Hong Kong.

e book is divided into two main sections: the history of Hong Kong, and

the history of Hong Kong with modern China. Each section consists of six sub-

stantial chapters.

e first two chapters deal with Hong Kongs social and religious history.

David Faure describes formative influences that created a pattern of living for

working emigrants from China during the period of 880930. Faure provides

valuable historical data on housing, sanitation, employment, and wages on the

common people of Hong Kong. Faure points out that congested housing and

poor sanitation conditions were common, but so were higher wages and upper

mobility that Hong Kong working emigrants experienced before and aer theSecond World War. Bernard Luk presents a very interesting historical overview

of the intricate relationship between religion and Hong Kong society, focusing on

Christianity, Buddhism, and Daoism during three key periods: the beginning of

the city, the mid-twentieth century, and the 970s. Luk highlights major religious

activities in Hong Kong society, including liturgical worship, spiritual guidance,

community service, and social action.

Drawing upon the cultural differences, political viewpoints, and different

economic interests between the British and Chinese in the nineteenth century,Louis Ha and Fung Chi Ming provide full and interesting accounts of the debate

f S d t d d bl ll i f Chi lit H h t h th t th

7/29/2019 27961613.pdf

2/4

Reviews 455

and the principal requirements of the growing port city to secure its steady devel-

opment. It is noteworthy that Hong Kong had awareness in the 870s of potential

competition with Shanghai in the shipping and harbour business. Fungs chapter

reveals the conflicting allegiances of the Chinese elites in the process of Sino-Brit-

ish diplomatic negotiations. He highlights moments of crisis between 9 and94 and describes how the two Hong Kong governors of those years, Lugard and

May, had different views over the issue.

is book has two chapters on the New Territories. Chan Kwok-shings chap-

ter demonstrates how the formation of the Luen Wo Market was closely related to

the changes in agricultural land use in Hong Kong and to the governments agri-

cultural policy (that was developed in response to the potential unrest in China

in the late 940s). is chapter also portrays the dynamic process of creating and

maintaining elite power on the local level in rural Hong Kong. Elizabeth Johnsons

chapter provides a thoughtful survey of the historical, anthropological, cultural,

and religious studies of the New Territories inhabitants, society, and institutions

that have been conducted since the Second World War. Johnson insightfully

observes that social science research in Hong Kong was very much influenced by

the political and economic development of the colony, and her chapter comple-

ments Chan Kwok-shings chapter on Luen Wo market.

Based upon archival and other relevant material, Gillian Bickley provides a

detailed account of the biography of Frederick Stewart (836889), whose stu-

dents contributed to the modernization of China during and aer his term asheadmaster at Central School. Wong Man-kong discusses the different orienta-

tions and perspectives on the study of sinology by two prominent figures, James

Legge (85897) and Ernest John Eitel (838908), both of whom conducted

research and developed careers in the colony of Hong Kong. Man-kongs chapter

successfully draws our attention to how these two famous sinologists promoted

missionary causes and assisted the colonial government. Most likely, Stewart,

Legge, and Eitel shared the same view, that understanding China is the first step

to helping China, and so these three put their effort into translating Chinese clas-

sics, compiling dictionaries, and promoting Chinese education in Hong Kong.

In the twentieth century, the relationship of Hong Kong with China entered a

new phase as political chaos and social unrest persisted in China. Different politi-

cal parties or regimes in China competed to establish their networks in Hong

Kong. Diana Larys chapter demonstrates that Hong Kong was a most useful ref-

uge for Chinas southern warlords, an important channel for collecting and shar-

ing information, for intrigue, and for the acquisition of money and armed sup-

plies. ese warlords, as Lary points out, had very little to do with Hong Kongs

own history. ey showed little interest in what was going on there. . . . eir only

interest in the place [Hong Kong] was a stable, comfortable refuge (p. 66). Chan

7/29/2019 27961613.pdf

3/4

456 China Review International: Vol. , No. , Fall

ing 92934. Chan convincingly shows that the colonys Chinese merchants and

populace dreaded Chinese communism, and more importantly, that the anti-com-

munist sentiment during this period transcended social class division.

Chung Wai-keung discusses how Hong Kong presented itself to China and

elsewhere in the world in terms ofguohuo (Chinese national product), show-ing how problematic the notion being Chinese could be in the colony. In this

chapter, Chung describes the adverse effects on Chinese industrialists of produc-

ing manufactured goods in the British colony at a time of intense nationalist

feeling among Chinas people and government, whereby Hong Kong goods were

not allowed free entry into the Chinese market. An ongoing campaign to publi-

cize Hong Kong products as national goods failed in China but succeeded in

Southeast Asia. is issue is quite meaningful because today Hong Kong indus-

trialists are encouraged by the newly launched CEPA (Closer Economic Partner-

ship Arrangement) program to boost the sale of Hong Kong products in Chinas

domestic market.

Finally, Catherine Schenk addresses the impact of three shocks to the eco-

nomic relations between Hong Kong and China during the period of trade

embargoes, the Guomindang blockage of 949950, and the freezing of Chinese-

owned United States trade balances in 950. Schenk argues that the Guomindang

naval blockade and financial controls were important factors affecting the rela-

tionship between Hong Kong and China, balancing attention paid previously to

the United States/United Nations embargoes on trade with China in the 950s. Inthis chapter, Schenk also examines and assesses the impact of smuggling between

Hong Kong/Macau and China, which is a common issue today when the integra-

tion of the economies of Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province is being

considered.

e chapters in this volume are all very well written and highly informative.

ey convincingly argue that Hong Kongs history cannot be studied in isolation

and that Hong Kong has to be examined through its interaction with mainland

China. e chapters also contribute by studying many relatively neglected topics

such as the livelihood of the common people, the various religious traditions, the

market town in the New Territories, and the Guangxi warlords in Hong Kong. All

in all, Colonial Hong Kong and Modern China has made a significant contribution

to Hong Kong studies and is indispensable to those researchers who want to know

more about Hong Kong history and society.

Alvin Y. So

Alvin Y. So is a professor in the Division of Social Science at Hong Kong University

of Science and Technology.

7/29/2019 27961613.pdf

4/4