Hong Kong and British Culture, 1945–97

Description

This book examines the British cultural engagement with Hong Kong in the second half of the twentieth century. It shows how the territory fit unusually within Britain’s decolonisation narratives and served as an occasional foil for examining Britain’s own culture during a period of perceived stagnation and decline. Drawing on a wide range of archival and published primary sources, Hong Kong and British culture, 1945–97 investigates such themes as Hong Kong as a site of unrestrained capitalism, modernisation, and good government, as well as an arena of male social and sexual opportunity. It also examines the ways in which Hong Kong Chinese embraced British culture, and the competing predictions that British observers made concerning the colony’s return to Chinese sovereignty. An epilogue considers the enduring legacy of British colonialism. This book will be essential reading for historians of Hong Kong, British decolonisation, and Britain’s culture of declinism. Front matter Dedication Contents List of illustrations Preface and acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction: Britishness, empire, and Hong Kong Hong Kong and British culture: postwar contexts The discourse of unbridled capitalism in postwar Hong Kong A man’s playground The discourses of order and modernisation Good governance Chinese Britishness Narratives of 1997 Epilogue: postcolonial hangovers Select bibliography Index