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Local Identity at Risk: Nation-Building in China’s Guangzhou, Macao, and Hong Kong

Bill Chou

Department of Government

and Public Administration

University of Macau

- Identity: defined as a sense of common Identity: defined as a sense of common history and culture shared by the history and culture shared by the communities within a natural or man-made communities within a natural or man-made boundaryboundary

- Identity may be centered on regions, Identity may be centered on regions, religion, blood ties, food, or ethnicities.religion, blood ties, food, or ethnicities.

- It may emerge naturally (i.e. ethnic It may emerge naturally (i.e. ethnic identity) or be created by state (i.e. civic identity) or be created by state (i.e. civic identity)identity)

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Regional identity as a relative concept Regional identity as a relative concept

Local IdentityLocal Identity National IdentityNational Identity

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HK Macao Guang-HK Macao Guang-

zhouzhou

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A.A. The autonomy in expressing and developing The autonomy in expressing and developing local identities in Greater China is contingent local identities in Greater China is contingent on the proximity to the political center of on the proximity to the political center of Beijing. The closer to Beijing politically, the Beijing. The closer to Beijing politically, the weaker the local identity is.weaker the local identity is.

1.1. Under the unitary system of an authoritarian Under the unitary system of an authoritarian state, Guangzhou has the least autonomy in state, Guangzhou has the least autonomy in developing local identities.developing local identities.

2. With its civil society being largely pro-China in its outlook, Macao manifests a higher degree of integration with China’s national identity than Hong Kong does.

3. Hong Kong’s local identity faces serious challenges with looming Chinese influence in political, economic, and social spheres.

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B. Local identities of GuangzhouB. Local identities of Guangzhou1.1. Distinctive local identity due to vast Distinctive local identity due to vast

distance from the political center and distance from the political center and exposure to foreign influence.exposure to foreign influence.

2.2. The integration of local identities with the The integration of local identities with the national identity since 17th century: folk national identity since 17th century: folk religion, spread of education, languages.religion, spread of education, languages.

3.3. Local identity is threatened by internal Local identity is threatened by internal migration, the national education policy, migration, the national education policy, and the pragmatic consideration of and the pragmatic consideration of learning Mandarin and English.learning Mandarin and English.

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4. The use of local dialects in public space is 4. The use of local dialects in public space is restricted.restricted.

a.a. The use of Cantonese in television and The use of Cantonese in television and radio broadcast requires the approval radio broadcast requires the approval from provincial or central governments.from provincial or central governments.

b.b. Local leaders have to use Mandarin in Local leaders have to use Mandarin in public events.public events.

c.c. Some schools prohibit their students to Some schools prohibit their students to use Cantonese.use Cantonese.

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C. Local identity in MacauC. Local identity in Macau

1.1. Rule of Portuguese started in 1553 until 1999. Rule of Portuguese started in 1553 until 1999. Macau population is formed by migrants, and Macau population is formed by migrants, and therefore a coherent sense of local identity is therefore a coherent sense of local identity is hardly formed until recently.hardly formed until recently.

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2. Portuguese controlled the public administration 2. Portuguese controlled the public administration whilst pro-Beijing societal forces were whilst pro-Beijing societal forces were predominant in civil society and education after predominant in civil society and education after 1966. The school curriculum of history and 1966. The school curriculum of history and language are weakly regulated even nowadays.language are weakly regulated even nowadays.

3. The decline of Patuá – a language spoken by 3. The decline of Patuá – a language spoken by fewer than 50 people.fewer than 50 people.

4. Despite weaker than national identity of China, 4. Despite weaker than national identity of China, a local identity was emerging.a local identity was emerging.

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a. Promotion of Macao’s cultural heritage for a. Promotion of Macao’s cultural heritage for cultural tourism.cultural tourism.

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b. Economic prosperityb. Economic prosperity

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c. Social tension with the increasing c. Social tension with the increasing presence of presence of

mainland Chinese mainland Chinese

visitorsvisitors.

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Over-crowdedness caused by mainland Over-crowdedness caused by mainland visitorsvisitors

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c. Nostalgia amidst the demise of old life style.c. Nostalgia amidst the demise of old life style.

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D. Local identity in Hong KongD. Local identity in Hong Kong

1. Local identity did not emerge in the 1970s 1. Local identity did not emerge in the 1970s amidst rapid development of economy and pop amidst rapid development of economy and pop culture.culture.

2. National identity of China was restricted 2. National identity of China was restricted due to the colonial policy of de-politicizing due to the colonial policy of de-politicizing since the 1950s (Cold War). since the 1950s (Cold War).

3. The rise of China and national education 3. The rise of China and national education after 1997 enhanced Hong Kong people’s after 1997 enhanced Hong Kong people’s national identity.national identity.

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Ethnic Identity of HK People (From 1997 Ethnic Identity of HK People (From 1997 onwards)onwards)

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4. Local identity re-emerge amidst:4. Local identity re-emerge amidst:

a.a.The increasing presence of Chinese The increasing presence of Chinese visitorsvisitors

b.b.The increasing Chinese government’s The increasing Chinese government’s influence on Hong Kong politics influence on Hong Kong politics perceived as assault to local identitiesperceived as assault to local identities

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2020

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5. Subtle government effort to demonize/ 5. Subtle government effort to demonize/ belittle Cantonesebelittle Cantonese

a. a. Education TV

b. Education Bureau: “Cantonese is a b. Education Bureau: “Cantonese is a Chinese dialect, not official language”, Chinese dialect, not official language”, ignoring the reality that UNESCO ignoring the reality that UNESCO designated Cantonese as a language in designated Cantonese as a language in 2010. 2010.

c. Phasing in using Mandarin to teach c. Phasing in using Mandarin to teach Chinese literature in schools.Chinese literature in schools.

d. Phasing in national education, criticized to d. Phasing in national education, criticized to be brain-washing students with the state-be brain-washing students with the state-sanctioned views of Chinese history and sanctioned views of Chinese history and culture. culture.

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Anti-National Education Campaign (2011 – 2012)Anti-National Education Campaign (2011 – 2012)

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