Hong Kong must be given room to be different from the mainland
Xi Zou believes such allowances by Beijing will help ease tensions
The "umbrella movement" has brought an identity crisis into the spotlight. What we see in the current demonstrations is a cry for Hong Kong's unique identity to be protected. Now more than ever, the younger generation clearly want to differentiate themselves from mainlanders. Ironically, this is the generation that has grown up under the "one country, two systems" paradigm.
Having grown up in Guangzhou and lived in Hong Kong between 1999 and 2004, my memory of Hong Kong people is that they are warm, open-minded and incredibly proud of Chinese traditions. One might assume that, as the mainland grows stronger, Hongkongers would want to claim more of their Chinese identity and draw closer to their fellow countrymen.
However, in the 17 years since the city reunited with China, things have taken a different direction. Hong Kong people who once valued their relationships with mainlanders have become more and more resistant to mainland influence, exacerbated by culture clashes between mainlanders and locals.
It is clear that as the government pushes strongly for integration, the need for uniqueness among Hongkongers becomes stronger. Consequently, both Hongkongers and mainlanders are driven to focus on the differences between them.
Social psychology has proven that, as humans, we need to both belong and express individuality. Critically, these two motives are in constant tension with each other; when there is too much of one, the other naturally increases to counterbalance it.
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The umbrella movement is a reflection of the growing need among younger Hongkongers to be unique. This is perhaps why, important as they are, Chinese citizenship educational programmes and the way they are designed appear to be counterproductive in promoting a common identity.