On the basis of Hongkonger identity

On the basis of Hongkonger identity (關於香港人身份認同ge基礎)

I'd say Hkers have 3 ways of constructing their common identity -- being Chinese, Cantonese or Hongkonger.

Last night I went to this event where I met a handful of Hkers. They all actually live in Berlin? But I've never met them before? Not during LNY, not during Hkers' favourite event 4 June vigil...
https://berlincontemporarychinanetwork.org/events/detail/hong-kong-unbreakable-youth-films-and-discussion

So I was just thinking, how is it possible to bring Hkers together? Take a look at any ethnic group. Everyone has their own festivities and customs.

What about Hkers?

For those 3 options, if they base Hkers' identity on Cantonese heritage, then they should be doing all the Cantonese customs, 過冬, 過年, 清明行清, 五月節扒龍船 包粽, 七姐誕, 七月鬼節 中元節, 中秋 拜月光, 重陽...

Not everyone must attend everything, but at least half of them?

But how many of these things do Hkers, especially the youth, still know about? And many people would probably look down on these events as old fashioned 老土. There's also the problem that quite a large portion of Hkers dont trace their heritage to Cantonese but other ethnic groups with different customs.

Then how about constructing the identity on a Hongkong cultural basis? In that case I'd expect seeing Hkers celebrate the Founding of HK 開埠, Fall of HK (1 Jul and 25 Dec), Liberation of HK 重光, Remembrance Day (11 Nov), etc.

Obviously I dont think many Hkers do anything special on these dates, or they are even aware of these dates' significance.

So the lack of a conscious effort explains how difficult a Hkers' identity can be constructed, and also why it became so natural for so many to assume they are just "Chinese".

And Hkers have a really twisted understanding of their history. They commemorate neither the founding (26 Jan 1841) nor the fall (1 Jul 1997) of their homeland, but the event that would draw most Hkers together is 4 June vigil (which marks Tiananmen Massacre, a bloody event of Chinese killing Chinese on Chinese soil 2000km away from HK).

And I, knowing full well of the situation we are facing as well as the history, at this juncture, always feel so powerless and exhausted whenever I try to group Hkers together by initiating such events. After all, I'm not even Hker, LOL.

(written 2024-07-02)

part 2: https://royzuo.blogspot.com/2024/07/traditions-define-identity.html