The focus of this book is on the impact of politics on language and identity in Hong Kong. The book is the first study to track real time language attitude changes against a divisive political landscape. It is also the most comprehensive study of language attitudes in Hong Kong to date, taking place over four years with over 1600 participants. Through both survey and interview data, a multifaceted portrait of language change in progress is presented, providing a more nuanced and complex view of language and identity than has previously been presented. The book examines the status of Hong Kong English in the light of attitudes towards Cantonese, English, and Putonghua, providing a deeper analysis of the linguistic complexity of Hong Kong; it can be argued that one cannot understand attitudes towards Hong Kong English without fully understanding the status and use of English in Hong Kong today. The book also presents a complex examination of language attitudes in Hong Kong by focusing not only on the what of language attitudes, but also the question of for whom, through an analysis of language attitudes by gender, age, identity, and speaking HKE.

This book investigates the politics of language in Hong Kong from a multidisciplinary perspective, showcasing original studies on language use in protest movements, written Cantonese, language attitudes, literary creation, mass media and popular music. Representing the work of scholars of various disciplines ranging from political science and history to linguistics, communication and cultural studies, the book offers a multifaceted and timely account on the state of language in the rapidly changing city. Proposing a conceptual framework that distinguishes between language politics and the language of politics, it effectively underscores the importance of identity and ideology in studying the politics of language across different settings and disciplines. As a study of the language issue in Hong Kong this book is a valuable resource for scholars and students of Hong Kong studies and Chinese studies and to researchers of sociolinguistics and the politics of language.

This volume provides an overview of all aspects of Hong Kong English in a style designed for undergraduates and general readers. As a former British colony, Hong Kong used English as the language of government, law and education in the early days of colonial rule. Since the Handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997, it is no longer used as the primary language of government. However, the status of English has survived the decline of colonial rule, as English has become an international language which is indispensable for a service-oriented economy such as present-day Hong Kong. Its use is still widespread in legal contexts, and English is the medium of instruction in at least a quarter of secondary schools. Outwith the realm of education, English is important as a means of international communication in the fields of banking and finance, business, and in the tourism and hospitality industry. English is therefore integrated into Hong Kong life in various ways and this has resulted in a thriving and developing variety of English. This book describes English in Hong Kong as a linguistic phenomenon from the point of view of language structure, but also takes into account historical, socio-cultural and socio-political developments.

Contemporary Hong Kong Politics analyzes Hong Kong's core political institutions, mediating institutions and actors, key policy areas, and relationships with Mainland China and the international community.The politics of the HKSAR have often been turbulent in the decade since the 1997 handover. This book presents a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the main strands of continuity and change during the period. It looks first at the core institutions of the SAR, focusing on the executive, legislature, judiciary, civil service, District Councils, and advisory and statutory bodies. It then turns to supporting structures in the wider society, paying particular attention to political parties and elections, civil society and NGOs, and mass media and public opinion. Analyses of key policy sectors follow, notably economic policy, social policy and urban policy. To finish, the book examines Hong Kong's relations with the Mainland and the wider world.This book is essential for anyone - student, teacher or researcher - interested in Hong Kong's experience during the first decade of the "one country, two systems" experiment.

This thoroughly researched study provides an invaluable account of Hong Kong's political evolution from its founding as a British colony to the present. Exploring the interplay between colonial, capitalist, communist, and democratic forces in shaping Hong Kong's political institutions and culture, Suzanne Pepper offers a fresh perspective on the territory's development and a gripping account of the transition from British to Chinese rule. The author carries her narrative forward through the lives of significant figures, capturing the personalities and issues central to understanding Hong Kong's political history. Bringing a balanced view to her often contentious subject, she places Hong Kong's current partisan debates between democrats and their opponents within the context of China's ongoing search for a viable political form. The book considers Beijing's increasing intervention in local affairs and focuses on the challenge for Hong Kong's democratic reformers in an environment where ultimate political power resides with the communist-led mainland government and its appointees.