The golden bauhinia flower in the bottom left of the picture was a statue given by the Chinese government to Hong Kong when it was returned to the mainland after the island's 150-year loan to the British. Under its "Special Administrative Region" status (Hong Kong SAR), Hong Kong is legally considered a part of the People's Republic of China, but politically, it is self-governed. Hong Kong will have at least 50 years of autonomy before it is integrated back into the mainland.
It has been 11 years since the handover, and many Hong Kong people are already dreading their island's return to the mainland. Students in the Journalism program at CUHK told me that news in Hong Kong has slowly been changing. News stations are now more politically sensitive and careful when reporting about the mainland because of China's authoritarian and Communist government.
Hong Kong Chinese are also very deliberate about differentiating themselves from mainlander Chinese. There is a certain pride in their voices when they say they are from Hong Kong, and they are quick to point out that they are not from mainland China. In Hong Kong, being from mainland China holds connotations of spitting on the street, squatting, being loud and being dirty. Generally, this is the way the average Hong Kong Chinese perceives mainlanders.
Though many mainlanders are now moving into Hong Kong, they are being met with cultural tension and oftentimes hostility. Many Hong Kong Chinese are frustrated with the inability of mainlander Chinese to speak Cantonese, and they are annoyed that mainlanders are invading and taking over their city. Hong Kong Chinese want to keep their city protected from mainland China, but once its autonomous period is over, there is no telling what might happen to this
island.
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