Decolonise!: deconstructing the nostalgia of colonial Hong Kong

24 January 2025 marks 185 years since Britain's initial occupation of Hong Kong. The history and legacy of this period is complex: British colonial rule is often regarded as violent, exploitative, and destructive, however for Hong Kong, the experience and memory of colonial occupation—both lived and inherited—differ when considered in relation to what followed.

Following the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 the population experienced a rolling back of rights and freedoms they had under British rule. As a result, there are many Hongkongers today who express nostalgia for aspects of the British colonial era. This perspective deviates from a dominant narrative of resistance to colonial rule that is central to much decolonial practice. Hongkongers' nostalgia can often be misunderstood and met with surprise, confusion and at times, tension.

Dr. Law Wing Sang, a leading cultural studies scholar from Hong Kong, will unpack these histories and perspectives by addressing:

• A brief history of Hong Kong before, during, and after colonial rule
• How colonial power operated in Hong Kong
• Why many Hongkongers look back on the colonial legacy with fondness, even nostalgia

About the speaker:

Dr. LAW Wing-sang, (Retired) Associate Professor of Department of Cultural Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Author of the book Collaborative Colonial Power: The Making of the Hong Kong Chinese. HK: HKU Press.

In partnership with Readfirst Bookshop

A brief summary of Hong Kongs Occupation

When Britain gained control of Hong Kong in 1898, the land was inhabited by a small population of fishermen and farmers. Unlike many other British colonies that were built on widespread displacement, subjugation and enslavement of Indigenous populations, Britain's rule in Hong Kong, Dr Law suggests, was a “collaborative colonial formation”. The British adopted indirect rule over the region by co-opting local village leaders and adopting customary laws. The core power for the region was held in the British appointed governor in consultation with selected Chinese elites.

Over 156 years of British rule, the population grew from an estimated population of 5-7,000 to over 6 million. People migrated to Hong Kong from different parts of China and other parts of the world, creating a diverse migrant and refugee population. Migration to Hong Kong also included people seeking political refuge, having escaped from Chinese Communist Party rule in China.

The return of Hong Kong to China was met with mixed feelings. Whilst there were sections of the local population in favour of independence from Britain, there were many who feared the changes to their lives the return would bring about.

This event is part of Manchester Museum’s Decolonise! trail series.

The Decolonise! trail is an intervention in Manchester Museum that invites visitors to reflect on the Museum’s past, present and future

Decolonising at Manchester Museum is a process that includes offering a transparent and more nuanced history of The British Empire and of the collections. Find out more about Decolonising at Manchester Museum and the Decolonise! trail here