Sinophobia in Hong Kong News Media

Abstract

Sinophobia (anti-Chinese sentiment) has become normalised and increasingly acceptable in Hong Kong in recent decades. Such Sinophobia intersects with aims of protecting what is local in the society, as seen in Hong Kong news media. This paper first explores the concept of Sinophobia. It then provides a background on Sinophobia in Hong Kong, explaining the tensions between the identities of Hong Kong/HongKongers and Mainland China/Mainland Chinese. After elaborating on the role of media and the nature of local media in Hong Kong, this paper examines Sinophobic, stereotypical and quasi-racist discourse in three major Hong Kong news sources. While respecting Hong Kong heritage is a valuable goal, the Sinophobia accompanying some such aims can be seen to fuel hatred among people. In this context, encouraging a more inclusive and reflective discourse is warranted to work against the pitfalls of Sinophobia as a particular form of xenophobia in Hong Kong.

Keywords:

• Hong Kong
• news media
• Chinese
• Sinophobia
• China

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cong Lin

Cong Lin (Jason) is a Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong. He is also a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University. His research interests include philosophy of education, civic and citizenship education, multiculturalism, multicultural education, and identity. His latest published articles (with Liz Jackson) are Make China Great Again: The Blood-Based View of Chineseness in Hong Kong (Educational Philosophy and Theory), From Shared Fate to Shared Fates: An Approach for Civic Education (Studies in Philosophy and Education), and Multiculturalism in Chinese History in Hong Kong: Constructing Chinese Identity (Asia Pacific Journal of Education). He also co-edited a book with Michael Peters, Liz Jackson, and Janet Orchard, titled Encyclopedia of Teacher Education. He is currently working on projects exploring multiculturalism and identity formation in Chinese societies.

Liz Jackson

Liz Jackson is Professor in the Department of International Education at the Education University of Hong Kong. She is also President of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia.