Hong Kong's Rewritten Histories - On the Media

Summary

Podcast Summary: On the Media – “Hong Kong's Rewritten Histories”

Release Date: July 6, 2022
Host/Author: WNYC Studios’ Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger
Episode Title: Hong Kong's Rewritten Histories

1. Introduction and Book Overview

In this episode titled “Hong Kong's Rewritten Histories,” host Annalee Nuitz introduces Louisa Lim’s insightful book, Indelible Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong. Lim, an experienced reporter for NPR and the BBC, delves deep into the complex historical narratives that shape Hong Kong’s identity today. Nuitz emphasizes the book’s relevance, especially as Hong Kong prepares to adopt a new version of its history that omits its period under British colonial rule.

Notable Quote:
Annalee Nuitz reflects, “Lim’s work feels particularly relevant now because this fall, students in Hong Kong will learn a new version of history, one that erases the fact that Hong Kong was ever a British colony.” [00:23]

2. Rewriting Hong Kong's History

The discussion centers on the upcoming curriculum changes in Hong Kong, where four new history books, influenced by Chinese narratives, assert that Hong Kong has always been an integral part of China, dismissing the 156-year British rule. This revisionist approach aligns with Beijing’s broader efforts to reinforce sovereignty claims and reshape public perception.

Notable Quote:
Ira Flato critiques the British narrative: “The British version says that Hong Kong was a barren rock before the British arrival... But that simply wasn't true.” [05:25]

3. The King of Kowloon: Symbol of Defiance

A significant portion of the episode highlights the story of the “King of Kowloon,” a graffiti artist who transformed from a marginalized trash collector into a revered symbol of Hong Kong’s resistance. Despite his humble beginnings and disabilities, his persistent act of writing defiance on public spaces became a collective memory and an emblem of Hong Kongers’ struggle for identity and autonomy.

Notable Quote:
Annalee Nuitz describes him: “Lim describes him as a graffiti artist who went from being a toothless, often shirtless, disabled trash collector to a symbol of Hong Kong's defiance.” [00:23]

4. Competing Historical Narratives

The hosts delve into the contrasting historical accounts propagated by British colonial records and the Chinese reinterpretation. While the British depicted Hong Kong as an undeveloped territory that was transformed into a commercial hub, Chinese narratives assert an unbroken sovereignty, denying the colonial past and the legitimacy of the treaties that ceded Hong Kong to Britain.

Notable Quote:
Ira Flato states, “China’s rewritten Hong Kong's textbooks yet again... sovereignty was never ceded.” [06:08]

5. Myth-making: The Lo Tang Legend

To counteract imposed historical narratives, Hong Kongers have developed their own myths, such as the Lo Tang legend—a tale of fish-headed mermen descended from rebels. This myth not only fosters a unique cultural identity but also underscores a long history of resistance and political activism among Hong Kongers, challenging stereotypes of them being solely economic actors.

Notable Quote:
Ira Flato explains the myth: “The Lo Tang really challenges that idea because these fish men were mythically descended from a rebel.” [08:56]

6. Impact on Identity and the Pro-Democracy Movement

The erasure and rewriting of Hong Kong’s history have profound implications for its people’s sense of identity and the pro-democracy movement. Without access to a shared and authentic history, organizing and uniting around common values becomes challenging. The deliberate obscuring of history by both colonial and current authorities has led to a fragmented identity among Hong Kongers.

Notable Quote:
Ira Flato observes, “They lost access to their own history. One of the foundations of identity is having a shared history.” [10:36]

7. Current Challenges and the Future of Activism

The episode addresses the dire situation facing Hong Kong’s pro-democracy activists amidst increasing crackdowns. Many activists are choosing exile over remaining in a shrinking space for political dissent, leading to the formation of activist communities abroad. Those who stay face significant psychological trauma, shifting the focus from momentum to mere survival.

Notable Quote:
Ira Flato remarks, “We're seeing Hong Kongers leaving in huge numbers, hundreds of thousands.” [11:44]

8. Reflections on Multiple Histories

Concluding the episode, Ira Flato emphasizes the importance of embracing multiple historical narratives rather than imposing a singular version. By highlighting figures like the King of Kowloon, who embodied a self-appointed and community-accepted leadership, the episode advocates for a more inclusive and representative approach to history that acknowledges diverse voices and experiences.

Notable Quote:
Ira Flato concludes, “I’m opposed to the idea of the imposition of a singular history that must be followed.” [12:26]

Conclusion

“Hong Kong's Rewritten Histories” provides a compelling exploration of how historical narratives are contested and reshaped amidst political turmoil. Through Lim’s research and the hosts’ insightful analysis, the episode sheds light on the resilience of Hong Kongers in preserving their identity and history against external attempts at erasure and manipulation.

Transcript

Ira Flato (0:00)

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Annalee Nuitz (0:23)

This is the on the Media Podcast Extra and I'm Annalee Nuitz. I'm an author and the co host of the podcast. Our opinions are correct and I've been helping out around on the Media for the past couple of weeks. I recently read a great book about Hong Kong that hit some sweet spots for history, myth, activism and what it means to call a place home. It's by reporter Louisa Lim, who grew up in Hong Kong and has covered China for NPR and the BBC. The book is called Indelible Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong. Lim's work feels particularly relevant now because this fall, students in Hong Kong will learn a new version of history, one that erases the fact that Hong Kong was ever a British colony. According to four history books now under development in China, Hong Kong has always been a part of China, despite 156 years of British dominion. China has promoted this narrative ever since 1997, when the British left the hundreds of islands and one peninsula that make up the territory of Hong Kong. However, many Hong Kongers cannot forget their colonial history. One such Hong Konger was the so called King of Kowloon. Lim describes him as a graffiti artist who went from being a toothless, often shirtless, disabled trash collector to a symbol of Hong Kong's defiance. By the time he died in 2007, he believed that the peninsula of Kowloon rightfully belonged to his family and that the British had stolen it in the 1860s. In 1956, he took to the streets, painting calligraphy on the walls of Hong Kong in his shaky, stilted handwriting. He raged against the British Empire, scribbling down his entire family tree and the names of places he believed his family had lost.

Ira Flato (2:17)

And he'd write on the walls, electricity, boxes, the lamp posts, the flyovers, all these kind of bits of street furniture that you don't normally notice. And the government cleaners would clean away his work and he'd often come back the next day and write at the same place.

Annalee Nuitz (2:34)

In her book, Lim explains that the history of her city has always been shrouded in many contradictory myths. In defiance of these narratives, the King of Kowloon created his own personal history of the place, capturing the imagination of Louisa Lim and her fellow Hong Kongers.

Ira Flato (2:51)