HONGKONG DAY

AND THE FESTIVAL OF HONGKONG

The first Hongkong Day and the Festival of Hongkong hosted by the Museum of Hongkong was started on 26th January, 2014. Since then, MOHK keeps this tradition annually in order to preserve the real history and culture of Hongkong, and commemorate the founding of Hongkong back on 26th January, 1841 during the Anglo-Manchus War
The 1st to 8th Hongkong Day Celebration/Festival of Hongkong were held in Hongkong, and since the 9th (2022) is holding in the U.K. It is however not a celebration on colonialism, it is more like a celebration on the spirits of freedom-fighter Hongkongese by commemorating this special "National Day" among the Hongkongese community

MEANING OF HONGKONG DAY

Whilst It is true that Hongkong was established as primarily a port of commerce, the establishment also meant liberation for the indigenous islanders who were long treated as "undesirables" under the Chinese Confucianism society

ANGLO-TANCAREIRA ALLIANCE

Since the 2nd Chinese Conquest over Viets in B.C. 111, Viets is forced to divide into two "ethnic groups" in Cantonese costal regions - those who are with higher degree of sinicising became today's Cantonese; yet the less became the Tancareiras. But ironically Cantonese is still sometimes be decribed as "barbaric" by the Chinese living in Proper China, as they are not "Chineseness" enough but keeping many ancient Viets' elements, including the language. The fact is neither Cantonese nor Tancareira is Chinese, by both culturally and anthropologically

But in Tancareiras' case, it is much worse. For years of Chinese rules, Tancareiras were classified as "barbarian, evil creature, and sub-human" under the Chinese-Confucian Caste System. They are foribben to live on land (thus they are also called themselves as "water people), intermarrying with rest of the people in China, and compete ar literary exams (which is an indirect way to disinherit rights of education)

When the time comes to the Anglo-Manchus War (CN: Opium War) in 1839, Tancareiras decided to ally with British with one condition - British has to secure their safety and return their rights taken from the Chinese. The result is the establisment of Hongkong on 26th Janauary, 1841 by Sir Charles Elliot (then Administrator of Hongkong). The "promise" was later metioned in the letter sent from Sir Elliot to Lord Auckland (then Governor of India) on 21st June, 1841

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MEANING OF HONGKONG FESTIVAL

Hongkong also became a bastion of values within East Asia, which in turns has influenced the Japanese Meiji Restoration and the Chinese revolution. And through the experience, Hongkong develops its unique creole culture in the late 19th century and became mature in the Georgian Era and keeps evolving afterwards. The Festival intends to introduce the creole culture of Hongkong

The coronation of King George V took place in 1911 marks the starting of Georgian Era of Hongkong. The colonial policy of Georgian Era is looser comparing with the previous eras, and a cultural integration policy was established in Hongkong. Due to the relatively liberal policies, Hongkong is experiencing a cultural booming which we called it the Georgian Romance Era. Heritages of the Era could still be found in modern Hongkong: Bingsutt and its tea culture, Hongkongese Cheongsam, Hongkong-pop, Hongkong films, and poems written in a code-mixing pattern with English, Cantonese, and Chinese. Thus, it is very easy to understand what Georgian Romance is - an era with self-liberation, and a rich integration between Hongkong’s Cantonese traditions and Western (mainly British) culture