Why Hong Kong independence, localism, nativism and recolonisation worry mainland China
Hongkongers face a crisis of identity almost 20 years into Beijing’s rule over former British colony
The proportion of Hong Kong people regarding themselves as “Hongkongers” as opposed to “Chinese” has almost doubled since July 2012.
The findings, according to ongoing polling conducted by the University of Hong Kong, coincided with the rise of localism, which gradually evolved into calls for self-determination and, later, independence, amid what critics perceive as increasing mainland interference in the city’s politics and way of life under the current administration led by Leung Chun-ying.
Leung himself shone a light on the matter almost 18 months ago
in his characteristically confrontational way. It provoked a backlash at the time.
When he was reading out his third policy address, politicians and journalists were taken by surprise when Leung dedicated his opening paragraphs to what was at that time a little-known article in a student magazine circulated on the University of Hong Kong campus which called for self-determination for Hong Kong as a people distinct from mainlanders.
The students, Leung said, “have misstated some facts. We must stay alert.”