Lost in China?: Law, Culture and Identity in Post-1997 Hong Kong

Carol A. G. Jones

Eph 2015 · Cambridge University Press

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Rule of law is a core Hong Kong value, providing a defensive wall around the territory and protecting its way of life against 'mainlandisation'. Before the 1997 retrocession to China, fears were widespread that the rights and freedoms enjoyed under colonial rule would be eroded, that the rule of law would be weakened and that corruption would increase. Soon, the first blows were struck against the rule of law via an NPCSC ruling which overturned the judgment of the Court of Final Appeal. Successive interventions by Beijing in Hong Kong's legal and political affairs have given rise to fears about the loss of the rule of law and loss of identity. These fears have subsequently provoked mass street demonstrations, including the 'Umbrella Revolution' of 2014. But, as this book shows, Hong Kongers also use less explicit arts of resistance to maintain their identity.

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Carol Jones taught at universities in Hong Kong from 1990 to 2002, and remains involved academically there. She has written extensively about the role of law in Hong Kong's history and society, and she has a particular interest in how ideas about the law have shaped and been shaped by Hong Kong's colonial and postcolonial development.