HIS385H1 Lecture Notes - Cantonese People, Patrilineality, Yuan Dynasty
Document Summary
We are looking at the 4 different perspectives of hong kong: 1840s china lost war to british. A sense of national humiliation, surrendered piece of land. Ruling elite saw hk as symbol of national humiliation. Ruling elite not just govt officials but also educated peoples. Always symbol of national humiliation to this elite. Aggressive foreign imperialists. forced china to surrender territory. Upper class perspective: hk as a place of refuge and provide economic opportunities. People who lived in hk at time of british takeover numbered 5000---now 7 million. Were unable to survive in china, overtaxation, corruption, persecution etc. Saw hk as place that provided refuge and opportunities. Within china but lower class perspective: british perspective. Hk treated as port to base trade activities with china. Hk also became part of the british empire. trade and empire: hong kong perspective combination of br and communist china. Unique among chinese societies because it was a british colony.
