Covert Colonialism
Governance, Surveillance and Political Culture in British Hong Kong, c. 1966-97
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Manchester University Press
Published:24th Sep '24
Should be back in stock very soon
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.
'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
ISBN: 9781526182333
Dimensions: 234mm x 156mm x 16mm
Weight: 422g
296 pages