14
HELEN F. SIU
take it for granted. For rural emigrants in the 1980s who are already out of their context, the peculiarity of Hong Kong society is disorienting to say the least. Their attempts to solve personal dilemmas add new ones to their host society.
On the other hand, however Chinese in appearance, the bureaucratic assumptions of a technically modern economy have penetrated life in Hong Kong. A generation with Western education and life styles is forming the technical backbone of Hong Kong's international trade, finance, and manufacturing sectors. They have developed a peculiar outlook which incorporates most of the incongruence caused by the juxtaposition of the "traditional" and the "modern," the "Chinese" and the "Western." Such mentality is actively communicated and explored as the local population conduct their everyday activities. They want to keep what they have against a political power hovering over the border. Stability is highly priced though it is precariously perched on a fulcrum of hope. Recent immigrants as much as the "maternal uncles" are readily seen as intruders.
However, mainland boy or native resident, each has to acknowledge the existence of the other in a congested society required to perform a delicate balancing act. Each continues to jostle and bargain to give their concerns significance. However, amidst these active energies is a certain feeling of powerlessness that both immigrants and Hong Kong belongers share — that ultimately the factor colouring their energies lies in a political arena set by Beijing and the Western powers quite beyond their reach. This is a political reality more or less assumed. From time to time, Hong Kong citizens have expressed their political opinions — by "voting with their feet," as one journalist puts it. Just as Liang and his friends are accumulating resources and creating networks to settle in Hong Kong, many home-grown youths are preparing for departure. It appears that Hong Kong will continue to be the land of immigrants as well as emigrants.
14
HELEN F. SIU
take it for granted. For rural emigrants in the 1980s who are al- ready out of their context, the peculiarity of Hong Kong society is disorienting to say the least. Their attempts to solve personal di- lemmas add new ones to their host society.
On the other hand, however Chinese in appearance, the bu- reaucratic assumptions of a technically modern economy have penetrated life in Hong Kong. A generation with Western educa- tion and life styles is forming the technical backbone of Hong Kong's international trade, finance, and manufacturing sectors. They have developed a peculiar outlook which incorporates most of the incongruence caused by the juxtaposition of the "traditional" and the "modern," the “Chinese” and the “Western." Such mentality is actively communicated and ex- plored as the local population conduct their everyday activities. They want to keep what they have against a political power hover- ing over the border. Stability is highly priced though it is precari- ously perched on a fulcrum of hope. Recent immigrants as much as the "maternal uncles” are readily seen as intruders.
However, mainland boy or native resident, each has to ac- knowledge the existence of the other in a congested society re- quired to perform a delicate balancing act. Each continues to jostle and bargain to give their concerns significance. However, amidst these active energies is a certain feeling of powerlessness that both immigrants and Hong Kong belongers share — that ultimately the factor colouring their energies lies in a political arena set by Bei- jing and the Western powers quite beyond their reach. This is a political reality more or less assumed. From time to time, Hong Kong citizens have expressed their political opinions — by “vot- ing with their feet,” as one journalist puts it. Just as Liang and his friends are accumulating resources and creating networks to settle in Hong Kong, many home-grown youths are preparing for depar- ture. It appears that Hong Kong will continue to be the land of immigrants as well as emigrants.
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