A Study on National Consciousness in Post-1997 Hong Kong: Adolescents' Construction of Patriotism and Identity

The return of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to China (主權回歸), realised in 1997, will remain incomplete without corresponding developments in national consciousness (國民意識). The proposed project studies two aspects of national consciousness, patriotism toward and identification with China and Hong Kong, both of which have raised considerable public debate since 1997. In contrast to theoretical and policy frameworks that subscribe to the monolithic ideology of loving and identifying with only China, a pluralistic framework will be developed that allows for dual patriotisms (愛國也愛港) and identities (我是中國人也是香港人) in addition to single patriotism and identity. Within this conceptual framework derived from an extensive review local and overseas literature, the project will unravel national consciousness among Hong Kong adolescents by ascertaining the pluralistic nature of patriotism and identity, their relationships with each other as well as with relevant variables such as trust and knowledge of China and Hong Kong. The results will advance the understanding of post-1997 national consciousness and the impact of national education, as well as inform policies and practices of national education.