Covert Colonialism: Governance, Surveillance and Political Culture in British Hong Kong, c. 1966-97(Studies in Imperialism)

This book fills the long-standing void in the existing scholarship by constructing an empirical study of colonial governance and political culture in Hong Kong from 1966 to 1997.Using under-exploited archival and unofficial data in London and Hong Kong, it overcomes the limitations in the existing literature which has been written mainly by political scientists and sociologists, and has been primarily theoretically driven. It addresses a highly contested and timely agenda, one in which colonial historians have made major interventions: the nature of colonial governance and autonomy of the colonial polity. This book focusing on colonialism and the Chinese society in Hong Kong in a pivotal period will generate meaningful discussions and heated debates on comparisons between ‘colonialism’ in different space and time: between Hong Kong and other former British colonies; and between colonial and post-colonial Hong Kong.

Table of Contents:
Preface and acknowledgements Introduction 1. Constructing ‘public opinion’ through Town Talk and MOOD 2. The Chinese as the official language movement 3. The anti-corruption movement 4. The campaign against telephone rate increases 5. The campaign to reopen the Precious Blood Golden Jubilee School 6. The changing immigration discourse and policy 7. The British Nationality Act controversy 8. Overt public opinion surveys and shifting popular attitudes towards proposed and implemented constitutional reforms Conclusion Select bibliography

About the Author :
Florence Mok is a Nanyang Assistant Professor of History at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Review :
'Timely and provocative, Mok’s deeply researched and compellingly argued book is a wake-up call to those politicians and academics who still embrace the erroneous “myth of political apathy and stability in Hong Kong” (p. 257) and fail to understand Hong Kong’s political culture through its ongoing history of political activism. Covert colonialism is essential reading for those interested in Hong Kong history and politics, as well as in the evolving nature of colonial governance and decolonization during the 20th century, the effects of which can still be felt today.' The China Quarterly 'Covert Colonialism serves the purpose of putting the voices of the ordinary people back in the analysis of major social events and political developments in Hong Kong since the late 1960s and the book explains how colonial governance was sustained by proactive adjustment to the changing aspirations of the governed. It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the politics of Hong Kong past and present.' Yep, R. (2024), China Information 'Mok encourages us to take seriously the interest colonial officials had in becoming more aware of and responsive to public concerns, even as they were determined to maintain control over the main levers of power in the city... she was encouraging readers to think about Hong Kong as a place that shared some basic features with other colonial cities scattered throughout the British Empire, but that was not quite like any of these.' American Historical Review 'Mok’s monograph makes a timely and masterful intervention in the political history of Colonial Hong Kong.' Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History