Factors of Forming of Hong Kong’s Political Culture During the British Rule

Abstract

The article formulates and analyses factors of forming of Hong Kong’s modern political culture with the purpose of uncovering the nature of local antigovernment protests. Considering the mass unrest acts in Hong Kong as a special administrative region of the PRC, social and political aspects are emphasized. The article considers the historical way of forming of Hong Kong’s initial population, composed of aboriginals — the Cantonese and aliens from the north — Hakka. Autonomy of ongoing processes in the region is emphasized. The article analyses influence on Hong Kong’s society during Britain’s colonial rule as a main factor of forming of its modern political culture. The article also considers the nature of Hong Kong’s government interaction with its society in 1940-1960s. The article states that at this time the government adhered the concept of minimal colonial state and didn’t take meaningful measures to solve the most important social and political problems. The period of 1970s, on the contrary, is defined as a time of fundamental changes in Hong Kong’s socio-political structure. This is due to accelerating of modernization processes and Hong Kong’s gaining a certain degree of autonomy at this time. The authors conclude that a unique mentality in Hong Kong’s society was formed and gives its characteristic, which makes it possible to speak of the features of its political culture.