Returned but separated: political stance, identity, and the yellow–blue divide in Hong Kong SAR China#

Abstract

Political stance and identity have become major axes dividing ordinary people in Hong Kong into hostile opposing groups. Using the 2017 Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics data, we used latent profile analysis to study the social divisions within Hong Kong society. Our results confirmed that there was indeed a latent class structure with two extremes—Hongkongese identification with a pro-democracy political orientation (the Yellow camp) versus Chinese identification with a pro-government political orientation (the Blue camp). The Yellow–Blue camps had evident disparities in attitudes toward political independence, violence, breach of law, and anti-mainland sentiments. Whereas the Yellows were characterized by extreme localism that could be described as peripheral nationalism, the Light Yellows were a milder group preferring greater autonomy, not independence. Our results also demonstrated generational gaps in the Yellow–Blue divide.