It has been nearly 27 years since Hong Kong's return to China, but there are still a large number of colonial expressions such as "Her Majesty the Queen" and "Minister of State" in its legal provisions. Last week, the Hong Kong government officially published the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 and submitted it to the Legislative Council for its first reading on May 22. The Bill aims to amend some of the outdated provisions or expressions in the Ordinance, such as "Her Majesty's Government", "Governor", "Victoria", "Legislative Council", etc., to remove their colonial overtones. As mentioned earlier in this column, "In the next city, Hong Kong law finally ceased allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen!" Netizen: When will I be able to take off the "instant noodles" on the judge's head! The amendment will be an important step in the progress of "decolonization" of Hong Kong's legal profession.
With the success of the "decolonization" in the legal provisions, everyone's attention began to pay attention to the many street names full of colonial connotations in Hong Kong, many of which are still deeply imprinted with the imprint of the colonial era, such as Victoria Park, King's Road, Portiter Street, etc. In the past, there have been proposals from civil society groups to rename Victoria Park to "People's Park". So will these street names be similarly changed in the future?
The issue of "decolonization" of place names such as Hong Kong streets has recently sparked extensive and heated discussions among netizens. Compared with the "decolonization" of the education and judicial circles, everyone seems to be open to the "decolonization" of Hong Kong's place names, and even mainland netizens who are resolute about Hong Kong's "decolonization" have a majority of people who believe that this aspect can be retained as Hong Kong's characteristics. Some mainland netizens said: Why change. Multiculturalism is openness and tolerance, and if you don't have self-confidence, you will want to decolonize. The attitude of self-confidence is to transcend history on the basis of remembering history, rather than trying to erase it. There are already too many people's roads in Chinese mainland, Jiefang Road, why let the streets and alleys of Hong Kong be the same. The difference between Hong Kong and Hong Kong lies in the cultural heritage of both China and the West left over from 200 years of colonisation. Don't be self-righteous and impose change. Preserving the legacy of the past can also reflect another kind of integration.
Some netizens believe that these exotic place names and buildings are a kind of tourism resources in Hong Kong, and think: "Don't change the place name, don't demolish the old building, what tourists like is exotic." Some mainland netizens said: What you want to go to colonization is thought, psychology, not name.
Indeed, there are more than 4,000 streets in Hong Kong, and street names are an unavoidable topic from the perspective of regional history and cultural change. They are not only the embodiment of regional characteristics, but also carry complex humanistic connotations. From a cultural point of view, the preservation of colonial buildings and place names helps to showcase Hong Kong's historical continuity and promote its social and cultural sustainability, diversity and health. There is a social belief that every time there is a "change of dynasty", all traces of the previous era must be erased, but this practice will cut off history, leaving only words and photographs, and physical evidence.
As a treasure trove of Chinese and Western cultures, Hong Kong's street naming is full of history and cultural precipitation. Street names come from a variety of sources, including personal memorials, place names, regional industries or plants, all of which highlight the diversity of street names in Hong Kong and the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. Hong Kong's mix of Chinese and Western is not only reflected in the architectural aesthetics and language exchange, but also in the naming of the streets. These characteristic street names are not only part of Hong Kong's unique history, but also an integral part of its cultural heritage.
DAB Councillor Chow Ho-ting also believes that Hong Kong's greatest charm lies in the blend of Chinese and Western cultures, and if these cultural characteristics are erased, it will be difficult to show Hong Kong's diversity and inclusiveness to the international community. He advocated tolerance at the cultural level. In addition, it has been pointed out that many mainland tourists like to check in front of these colonial-era buildings and street signs, which are part of Hong Kong's cultural history and different from the legal nature. Many believe that there is no need to change the names of places such as Queen's Road and Mong Kok that have a "sense of history" in order for Hong Kong to maintain its cosmopolitan character, in addition to being reflected in cultural events such as horse racing and dance.
However, netizens who support the "decolonization" of Hong Kong's geographical names believe that to overthrow the Manchu Dynasty, we must cut the pig's tail and braids, put our feet, and take back Hong Kong must make up for the lesson of colonization! Being invaded and colonized is the shame and pain of the Chinese nation, and it is not glorious to have scars. Some netizens said that they must change these foreign names. Some netizens also think that there is no need for a one-size-fits-all approach: too strong colonial atmosphere can be removed! If you have characteristics, don't go.
It is worth noting that in the controversy among netizens, it is believed that the next most important thing to "decolonize" is the wig on the judge's head. Do you think it is necessary to "decolonize" Hong Kong place names? Feel free to leave a comment.