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What impact did the social and cultural achievements in pre-war Hong Kong have on post-war Hong Kong? Explain using films and football as examples. |
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See answer below. |
Although Hong Kong was dominated by the British, some Chinese could still manage to reach the upper social class. In the second half of the 19th century, compradors and peddlers were two important forces of the middle and upper social classes in Chinese society. The number of compradors was greatly reduced as they emerged as successful businessmen in the early 20th century. They included a number of prominent families such as Ho Tung (何東), Lee Hysan (利希慎), Fung Ping-shan (馮平山), Chau Siu-ki (周少岐) and Chau Cheuk-fan (周卓凡), and Philip Gockchin (郭泉) and James Gocklock (郭樂).
Racial segregation still existed in the 20th century. The Legislative Council passed the Peak District Reservation Ordinance, which reserved the Peak District for the white people. Even though for Ho Tung, the only Chinese who was permitted by the Hong Kong Governor to live in Mid-Levels, his children often encountered unpleasant situations. Racial discrimination was common in public and on social occasions. Some clubs were for non-Chinese only.
The founding of the University of Hong Kong, the first university in Hong Kong, was of great significance to pre-war Hong Kong’s cultural and education sector. H. N. Mody, a wealthy Indian businessman, made a major donation of HKD150,000 towards the founding of the University. Many British companies in Hong Kong, as well as Chinese communities at home and abroad, also donated. Intriguingly, both revolutionists and senior Qing officials supported the establishment of the University. There were two schools, namely Medicine and Engineering when the University first opened in September 1912. 72 students were admitted in this year. The School of Chinese Studies was established the next year.
The Happy Valley Racecourse on Hong Kong Island ran its first race in December 1846. Founded in 1884, the Hong Kong Jockey Club only allowed Europeans who settled in the colony to be its members. The Canton-Hong Kong strike occurred in 1925. After that, the Hong Kong government adopted a more lenient policy towards the Chinese, such as allowing them to watch races with the British in the same stand. Under the instructions of the Hong Kong Governor Cecil Clement, the Hong Kong Jockey Club accepted Chinese members for the first time in 1926. Ho Kam-tong (何甘棠) and Yung Hin-lung (容顯龍) were invited to be its earliest Chinese members.
Lee Wai-tong was born in Hong Kong in 1905. He once played for South China Football Team. Joined the Chinese National Football Team in 1923, Lee participated in the 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th Far Eastern Championship Games in 1923, 1925, 1930, and 1934 respectively and helped China won all these games. After the 7th Far Eastern Championship Games, he was honoured the “King of Asian Football” and became famous at home and abroad. He participated in the 11th Olympic football game in 1936 as the Captain of the Chinese National Football Team.
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What impact did the social and cultural achievements in pre-war Hong Kong have on post-war Hong Kong? Explain using films and football as examples. |
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The social and cultural achievements in pre-war Hong Kong laid a solid foundation for the social and cultural development in post-war Hong Kong. Take films as an example. The Hong Kong film industry started to bud in the 1910s. It developed rapidly and internationally after the Second World War and was once called the “Oriental Hollywood”. As for football, Lee Wai-tong in pre-war Hong Kong brought a big progress to the football industry in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland. Football became a popular sport that attracted spectators to games. Hailed as the “Kingdom of Asian Football”, Hong Kong football was once the best in Asia. |