HK identity is all a matter of values
No one seriously questions, 14 years after the handover, whether Hong Kong is a part of China. Of course it is. But that was not the issue dealt with by a recent survey on identity. The survey studied the way in which Hong Kong people view themselves. Asked to rank their feeling of citizenship, the number putting Hong Kong first, rather than China, reached a 10-year high.
It is not much of a stretch to contend that for all the developments across the border, there is more to a sense of national belonging than wealth. Nor is it difficult to understand that people in Hong Kong take pride in being a different part of China.
The study by the University of Hong Kong's public opinion programme has been conducted from time to time since the handover in 1997 and the findings have varied from year to year. Under colonial rule, many residents did not have a sense of belonging to any country. A tightly guarded border ensured that values developed and evolved separately. Even though Hong Kong is again part of China and our city is predominantly ethnic Chinese, the distinctions remain.
Why, as the poll found on this occasion, we think of ourselves as being Asians before citizens of the People's Republic of China is not easy to explain. But the answer may lie in the different values reflected in the 'one country, two systems' concept. Free speech, respect for civil and political rights, rule of law and a largely corruption-free system are high on the list. Each time an activist is jailed across the border, a tragedy occurs that should have been prevented or the rights of a person are trampled on, our embrace is loosened.
Given our circumstances, that is only to be expected. Similarly, at times of great achievement - when a Chinese athlete is crowned an international champion or a technological breakthrough is attained, such as with China's first manned space flight in 2003 - we feel pride. Such events do not come every day, but our sense of national belonging will grow as the mainland's values move closer to ours.
