Name: Anonymous 2006-10-21 15:12
COME HANDOVER TIME, BRITAIN is out, China is in. But this doesn't necessarily mean Hong Kongers will embrace all things Chinese and throw out anything remotely linked to British rule. In fact, objects that carry a colonial cachet (stamps featuring the Queen's head, for instance) can sell for a pretty penny. The following is a sampling of what is likely to be IN and OUT in post-handover Hong Kong.
Language
Mandarin is definitely IN, with civil servants and police officers -- not to mention ordinary Hong Kongers -- scrambling to take up putonghua lessons.
STILL IN is English, which will remain an official language, but probably headed OUT are colonial-minded Brits who complain bitterly just because local English-language TV channels run a few Mandarin-language programs and commercials.
Symbols
IN: Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis), bauhinia (Bauhinia blakeana). The former is the handover mascot, while the latter is the official flower of Hong Kong. Never mind that the Bauhinia blakeana is named after a bygone British governor and is a sterile hybrid. As for the Sousa chinensis (which is more pink than white), it is undoubtedly cute but one wonders if there is any symbolism behind the fact that it is near extinction.
Both OUT and IN: Queen's head, coats of arms, crowns. These will no longer feature on government signs, uniform badges and buttons, mailboxes, coins and stamps. Perhaps ironically, this has led to a hot demand for articles with the soon-to-disappear royal emblems.
Decor
IN: Fountains, mirrors (to maintain good feng shui).
OUT: Portraits of the Queen.
Names & Titles
OUT: Royal, Sir. IN: Hong Kong, Mr.
STILL OUT: Tongzhi (comrade). Organizations to shed "Royal" from their names: Hong Kong Police Force, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong Golf Club, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Still sticking to its guns (so far) is the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, where the motion to drop the colonial tag was defeated twice. Meanwhile, former chief justice Sir T.L. Yang has chosen to become just plain Mr. Yang Ti Liang.
Fashion
IN: Cheongsam.
OUT: Kilts.
STILL IN: Traditional British horse-hair wigs worn by justices. Mainland tourists love 'em.
History
OUT: "The 1839-42 Sino-British War resulted from a trade dispute between China and Britain." IN: "The 1839-42 Opium War was an immoral and unjust conflict brought about by imperial Britain's desire to force opium on the Chinese." Beijing is determined to rewrite the territory's textbooks in order to eliminate the current "colonial" bias. Some local officials, however, have expressed disquiet at what they regard as attempts to infringe upon Hong Kong's autonomy. Other issues targeted for "correction": Taiwan and the Korean War.
Holidays
IN: National Day (Oct. 1), Sino-Japanese War Victory Day (Aug. 18). OUT: The Queen's Birthday, Liberation Day.
Business
IN: Beijing Enterprises and other politically connected "red-chip" companies.
TRYING TO GET IN: Jardine Matheson and other politically incorrect British hongs.
Football
STILL OUT: Chinese soccer. Sure, Hong Kongers will continue to root for China in international matches, but the mainland's domestic league remains a big yawn. Maybe in 10 years' time. STILL IN: The English Premier League. It may not be the best football league in the world, but it is the most exposed -- in Hong Kong as elsewhere in Asia. At the moment, local football aficionados are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Premier League champions Manchester United in July. When tickets for the exhibition match went on sale last month, they were sold out in two-and-a-half hours.
Immigration
OUT: Visa-free entry for Brits. In recent years, Hong Kong saw a large influx of FILTH (Failed In London, Try Hong Kong), who took advantage of their British passports to corner the job market in sandwich-selling, cappuccino-peddling, bar-tending and English-tutoring. The easy ridin', however, has now come to an end, and FILTHy types will need to apply for a work permit like everyone else.
STILL OUT: Visa-free entry for mainlanders. Hong Kong is not about to experience a sudden flood of incoming mainland Chinese; border traffic will remain tightly regulated. (Still, some 55,000 legal mainland immigrants will continue to come over annually.)
National Anthems
IN: Yiyongjun Jinxingqu ("Righteous and Brave Soldiers' Marching Tune").
OUT: God Save the Queen.
Language
Mandarin is definitely IN, with civil servants and police officers -- not to mention ordinary Hong Kongers -- scrambling to take up putonghua lessons.
STILL IN is English, which will remain an official language, but probably headed OUT are colonial-minded Brits who complain bitterly just because local English-language TV channels run a few Mandarin-language programs and commercials.
Symbols
IN: Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis), bauhinia (Bauhinia blakeana). The former is the handover mascot, while the latter is the official flower of Hong Kong. Never mind that the Bauhinia blakeana is named after a bygone British governor and is a sterile hybrid. As for the Sousa chinensis (which is more pink than white), it is undoubtedly cute but one wonders if there is any symbolism behind the fact that it is near extinction.
Both OUT and IN: Queen's head, coats of arms, crowns. These will no longer feature on government signs, uniform badges and buttons, mailboxes, coins and stamps. Perhaps ironically, this has led to a hot demand for articles with the soon-to-disappear royal emblems.
Decor
IN: Fountains, mirrors (to maintain good feng shui).
OUT: Portraits of the Queen.
Names & Titles
OUT: Royal, Sir. IN: Hong Kong, Mr.
STILL OUT: Tongzhi (comrade). Organizations to shed "Royal" from their names: Hong Kong Police Force, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong Golf Club, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Still sticking to its guns (so far) is the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, where the motion to drop the colonial tag was defeated twice. Meanwhile, former chief justice Sir T.L. Yang has chosen to become just plain Mr. Yang Ti Liang.
Fashion
IN: Cheongsam.
OUT: Kilts.
STILL IN: Traditional British horse-hair wigs worn by justices. Mainland tourists love 'em.
History
OUT: "The 1839-42 Sino-British War resulted from a trade dispute between China and Britain." IN: "The 1839-42 Opium War was an immoral and unjust conflict brought about by imperial Britain's desire to force opium on the Chinese." Beijing is determined to rewrite the territory's textbooks in order to eliminate the current "colonial" bias. Some local officials, however, have expressed disquiet at what they regard as attempts to infringe upon Hong Kong's autonomy. Other issues targeted for "correction": Taiwan and the Korean War.
Holidays
IN: National Day (Oct. 1), Sino-Japanese War Victory Day (Aug. 18). OUT: The Queen's Birthday, Liberation Day.
Business
IN: Beijing Enterprises and other politically connected "red-chip" companies.
TRYING TO GET IN: Jardine Matheson and other politically incorrect British hongs.
Football
STILL OUT: Chinese soccer. Sure, Hong Kongers will continue to root for China in international matches, but the mainland's domestic league remains a big yawn. Maybe in 10 years' time. STILL IN: The English Premier League. It may not be the best football league in the world, but it is the most exposed -- in Hong Kong as elsewhere in Asia. At the moment, local football aficionados are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Premier League champions Manchester United in July. When tickets for the exhibition match went on sale last month, they were sold out in two-and-a-half hours.
Immigration
OUT: Visa-free entry for Brits. In recent years, Hong Kong saw a large influx of FILTH (Failed In London, Try Hong Kong), who took advantage of their British passports to corner the job market in sandwich-selling, cappuccino-peddling, bar-tending and English-tutoring. The easy ridin', however, has now come to an end, and FILTHy types will need to apply for a work permit like everyone else.
STILL OUT: Visa-free entry for mainlanders. Hong Kong is not about to experience a sudden flood of incoming mainland Chinese; border traffic will remain tightly regulated. (Still, some 55,000 legal mainland immigrants will continue to come over annually.)
National Anthems
IN: Yiyongjun Jinxingqu ("Righteous and Brave Soldiers' Marching Tune").
OUT: God Save the Queen.