The Dynamics of Social Movements in Hong Kong

Series Foreword

Series Foreword Most past research on Hong Kong has been generally aimed to inform a diverse audience abou t th e plac e an d its people . Beginning i n th e 1950s , th e ai m of scholars and journalists who came to Hong Kong was to study China , whic h had not yet opened its doors to fieldwork by outsiders. Accordingly, the relevance of Hong Kong was limited to its status as a society adjacent to mainland China. After the opening of China, research on Hong Kong shifted focus towards colonial legitimacy and the return of sovereignty. Thus, the disciplined study of Hong Kong was hindere d fo r almos t hal f a century , an d th e richnes s o f a societ y undergoing dramati c economic , socia l an d politica l chang e withi n th e contemporary world was not sufficiently emphasized . The unfolding of culture and society in Hong Kong is no longer confined by the 1997 question. New changes are shaped by local history as much as by the China factor. Rather than being an isolated entity, Hong Kong is an outcome of interaction amon g loca l history , nationa l context , an d globa l linkages . A n understanding of the future developmen t of Hong Kong requires sensitivity to this contextual complexity . The volumes i n thi s serie s ar e committed t o making Hong Kon g studie s address ke y issue s an d debate s i n th e socia l sciences . Eac h volum e situate s Hong Kon g cultur e an d societ y withi n contemporar y theoretica l discourse . Behind th e description s o f socia l an d cultura l lif e i s a conceptua l dialogu e between local agenda, regional issues, and global concerns. This series focuses on changing socio-economic structures, shifting political parameters, institutional restructuring, emerging public cultures, and expanding global linkages . I t cover s a rang e o f issues , includin g socia l movements , socialization int o a national identity , th e effec t o f new immigrant s fro m th e Mainland, social networks of family members in other countries, the impact of viii Th e Dynamics of Social Movement i n Hong Kong the colonia l legac y o n th e identit y o f forthcomin g generations , trad e unio n organization withi n th e shiftin g politica l landscape , linkages with Southeas t Asian societies , Hon g Kong' s ne w rol e betwee n Taiwa n an d th e Chines e mainland, the transformation o f popular culture, the globalization of social life, and the global engagement o f Hong Kong's universities in the face of national integration. Gerard A. Postiglione Tai Lok Lui Series general editors ...