Hong Kong People and Mainland Chinese People - Essay Example

Hong Kong People and Mainland Chinese People Name: Course: Date: Introduction Since the handover to China in the late 1990s, Hong Kong has always had a complex relationship with the Chinese in the mainland. The Chinese government has made investments in Hong Kong and this means that Hong Kong is a great beneficiary by the fact that it forms part of China. It is however important to note that the difference between mainland China and Hong Kong is not exclusively economic. There are numerous differences between these two entities under the same government (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012). The main objective of this paper is to assess discourses that have impacted on the people of Hong Kong and how these differences distinguish them from Mainland Chinese people. These discourses will include national identity, spoken language and social media. National identity Both Hong Kong and mainland China have developed different local and national identities. Since its inclusion as part of China, majority of those who live in Hong Kong identify themselves as Hong Kong Chinese but not as Chinese in the exclusive sense. This distinct identity that characterizes this city that has experienced great evolution ever since 1997 when it became part of the People’s Republic of China surpasses that of any metropolitan identity (Ma & Mathew, 2008). It is comparable to those living in New York identifying themselves as New Yorkers in the United States. The identity that those in Hong Kong ascribe to connotes prosperity and pragmatism. These have made the city remain unique and to a particular level, it is possible to see it as opposed to Chinese identity unlike those in Mainland China. Those in Hong Kong are attached to some form of custom, civilization and nationality. Theoretically, the difference in national identity between those in mainland China and those in Hong Kong can be positioned in the debate between essentialism and constructivism. According to essentialists, the development of national identity is based on the assumption that identities of certain groups are given on the basis of blood, racial background, language and territorial boundaries. The constructive approach holds the belief that the development of a national identity is derived from viewing the nation as an imagined political community and this means that its creation does not abide by the tenets of essentialism (Pavienko & Blackledge, 2010). Hong Kong and mainland China can be perceived as different entities, though under the same government. This is based on the essentialist theory which affirms that the development of a national identity is only possible in situations where there are strong societal ties that create some form of relationship between the two groups. The unity between Mainland China and Hong Kong is therefore more of a constructivist approach. From the perception of the government Hong Kong is part of the larger China as they share the same government and other common resources. However, in reality these are two separate entities where one s seen as an intruder into the China (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012). Spoken language Mandarin Chinese is one of the most spoken languages in China and to an extent it is possible to suppose that it is the only language that is attributable to Chinese. This can be said to be related to the fact that Mandarin is the official language Mainland Chinese and it forms part of the official international languages of the United Nations. Studies indicate that. Hong Kong is part of the larger China. According to the available statistics about 95% of those living in this city speak Cantonese. The point of conflict between these two entities of China is that the mainlanders Mandarin should be spoken by everyone in the country. Other dialects, such as Cantonese, should only be spoken in situations when those who desire those who desire to have the knowledge of the said language can express themselves effectively in the official language (Ma & Mathew, 2008). The people of Hong Kong viewed their inclusion in China as some form of disturbance. The fact that they had to identify themselves as Chinese is a symbol of some form of neo-colonialism by the Mainland Chinese people. Language in the view of essentialists is a fundamental aspect of culture. Every cultural attribute of a group of people who are said to share some form of tradition can be said to have a common language. It is through their language that cultural beliefs can be passed from one generation to another (Leitner, 2004). The domination of Mandarin language in China at the expense of other languages is a sign of suppression of other cultures. English is also a language that is widely spoken in China due to its global essence. This is one similarity that both the mainland and Hong Kong share. The difference is however that those in Mainland China are expected to only learn Mandarin and English since these are the most important for their political, economic and socio-cultural well being. For those in Hong Kong, they have to learn both English and Mandarin for the same reasons just as those in Mainland China. In addition, they also have to learn Cantonese as a way of preserving their perceived cultural heritage from possible disappearance if left unspoken and unused for a long time (Pavienko & Blackledge, 2010). English is widely spoken in Hong Kong compared to Mainland China. This is attributable to the fact that Hong Kong had lived under the rule of the British for more than 100 years. During these years the British introduced their system of governance and their system of education. Cantonese for instance is more of a corrupted version of the original English language. It is mostly applicable for social interaction and in other cases it is applicable in official businesses. Those studying English language in Mandarin must understand the existence of different versions of the language and they can use them in their daily lives (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012). To this extent it is possible to argue that Hong Kong is richly endowed in terms of language as a result of the numerous types of language that every individual must learn and apply in their daily lives. Social media The use of different types of social media in Hong Kong and China can be best understood through the two systems approach. While Hong Kong retains its capitalistic economy and democratic system of governance that guarantees numerous forms of freedom, Mainland China is a little restrictive in allowing its citizens to freely access and use social sites. Mainland China has a very large media pool that is characterized by numerous magazine companies, newspaper producing companies, radio stations and cable television channels (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012). Despite this large number the government has put in place measures that limit the use of these forms of media. Social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter face more restrictions considering the fact that the use of Facebook, despite its popularity as one of the most widely used social network in the world, is unpopular in Mainland China (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012). This was a government initiative to ensure that its usage is marginalized. This blockage was because of the Urumqi riots in 2009. The activists of the said riots were using Facebook to air their views and to radicalize the rioters. In Mainland China, any social media company that desires to get an operational license in the country must be willing to embrace government censorship. Policy conflict between mainland China and Facebook lies on the proposition that while the government wants to possess the right to hack into its citizen’s accounts, Facebook’s policy requires that it protects its users and customers from any foreign disturbances (Chan & Lee, 2013). The situation is however different in Hong Kong in terms of the use of social media. Having been under the rule of the British, this province of China is relatively democratic as it allows for freedom of expression. When compared to mainland China, Hong Kong has a low number of social media channels and networks. The democratic environment however allows for the maximization in the use of these sites. There are very few sites that are blocked for public use and the censorship measures are those aimed at protection the interest of the province. Any censorship laws that are in contraction to the principles of democracy are viewed as denying the citizens their freedom of expression. An adoption of the British democratic and capitalistic systems allows for the use of social media not only for communication but also for economic gains in terms of online businesses under little or no supervision by the government (Chan & Lee, 2013). Conclusion Hong Kong and mainland China possess some forms of differences despite the fact that they all are part of the People’s Republic of China. The difference however arises from the fact that the people in Hong Kong had a close relationship with the British until it (Hong Kong) was reunited with China and it became of the country’s provinces. These two entities have differences in national identity, language use and the freedoms enjoyed in the use of social media sites and networks. References Chan, J & Lee, F. (2013). Media and Political in Post- Handover Hong Kong. Routledge, 113- 115. Leitner, G. (2004). Australia’s many Voices: Australian English- The National Language. Berlin; New York: Mouton de Grunner Ma, J. Lu, M & Mathew, G. (2008). Hong Kong: Learning to Belong to a Nation. Taylor & Francis, pp. 130- 135 Pavienko, A & Blackledge, A. (2010). Negotiation of Identities in Multilingual Contexts. Multilingual Matters Ltd Zheng, P., Chang, T & Liu, S. (2012). Social Media Uprising in the Chinese- Speaking World. Hong Kong In Media Read More

From the perception of the government Hong Kong is part of the larger China as they share the same government and other common resources. However, in reality these are two separate entities where one s seen as an intruder into the China (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012). Spoken language Mandarin Chinese is one of the most spoken languages in China and to an extent it is possible to suppose that it is the only language that is attributable to Chinese. This can be said to be related to the fact that Mandarin is the official language Mainland Chinese and it forms part of the official international languages of the United Nations.

Studies indicate that. Hong Kong is part of the larger China. According to the available statistics about 95% of those living in this city speak Cantonese. The point of conflict between these two entities of China is that the mainlanders Mandarin should be spoken by everyone in the country. Other dialects, such as Cantonese, should only be spoken in situations when those who desire those who desire to have the knowledge of the said language can express themselves effectively in the official language (Ma & Mathew, 2008).

The people of Hong Kong viewed their inclusion in China as some form of disturbance. The fact that they had to identify themselves as Chinese is a symbol of some form of neo-colonialism by the Mainland Chinese people. Language in the view of essentialists is a fundamental aspect of culture. Every cultural attribute of a group of people who are said to share some form of tradition can be said to have a common language. It is through their language that cultural beliefs can be passed from one generation to another (Leitner, 2004).

The domination of Mandarin language in China at the expense of other languages is a sign of suppression of other cultures. English is also a language that is widely spoken in China due to its global essence. This is one similarity that both the mainland and Hong Kong share. The difference is however that those in Mainland China are expected to only learn Mandarin and English since these are the most important for their political, economic and socio-cultural well being. For those in Hong Kong, they have to learn both English and Mandarin for the same reasons just as those in Mainland China.

In addition, they also have to learn Cantonese as a way of preserving their perceived cultural heritage from possible disappearance if left unspoken and unused for a long time (Pavienko & Blackledge, 2010). English is widely spoken in Hong Kong compared to Mainland China. This is attributable to the fact that Hong Kong had lived under the rule of the British for more than 100 years. During these years the British introduced their system of governance and their system of education. Cantonese for instance is more of a corrupted version of the original English language.

It is mostly applicable for social interaction and in other cases it is applicable in official businesses. Those studying English language in Mandarin must understand the existence of different versions of the language and they can use them in their daily lives (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012). To this extent it is possible to argue that Hong Kong is richly endowed in terms of language as a result of the numerous types of language that every individual must learn and apply in their daily lives.

Social media The use of different types of social media in Hong Kong and China can be best understood through the two systems approach. While Hong Kong retains its capitalistic economy and democratic system of governance that guarantees numerous forms of freedom, Mainland China is a little restrictive in allowing its citizens to freely access and use social sites. Mainland China has a very large media pool that is characterized by numerous magazine companies, newspaper producing companies, radio stations and cable television channels (Zheng, Chang & Liu, 2012).

Despite this large number the government has put in place measures that limit the use of these forms of media.

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