Leiden University Student Repository

Nieuwenhuis, Erwin (2020)

A Bridge too Far: Online Critical Discourse Analysis into the Construction of Hong Kong National Identity in Discussions on Infrastructure Projects

Master thesis | Asian Studies (60 EC) (MA)

This thesis analyses the construction of Hong Kong national identity in online discussions about the high speed rail connecting Hong Kong to Mainland China and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai sea bridge in localist Facebook groups. The paper argues that the Hong Kong identity constructed in these discussions is indeed nationalist, i.e. based on the belief that the members of the nation share a common origin, and is built on the following themes: antiMainland Chinese sentiment, anti-CCP thought, and the importance of money as identity constructing entity in Hong Kong society. As a result, the construction of Hong Kong national identity by Hong Kong localists relies heavily on Othering Mainland Chinese, while there are few references to Hong Kongese cultural characteristics. The contributions of this paper are that it argues for the possibility of a Hong Kong identity to be seen as national identity and how this national identity is constructed by localists.

Nationalism

Hong Kong

Discourse Analysis

Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge

Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link

Social Media

Locust

Sinophobia

Author

Nieuwenhuis, Erwin

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Chinese Studies

Supervisors

Creemers, Rogier

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en