Generation HK: Seeking Identity in China's Shadow (Penguin Specials: The Hong Kong Series) - Softcover

Bland, Ben

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0734398506 ISBN 13: 9780734398505

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia, 2017

Synopsis

Teenage activists turned politicians, multi-millionaire super tutors, and artists fighting censorship--these are the stories of Generation HK. From radically different backgrounds yet with a common legacy, having grown up in post-handover Hong Kong, these young people have little attachment to the era of British colonial rule or today's China. Instead, they see themselves as Hong Kongers, an identity both reinforced and threatened by the rapid expansion of Beijing's influence. Amid great political and social uncertainty, Generation HK is trying to build a brighter future. Theirs is a truly captivating coming-of-age story that reflects the bitter struggles beneath the gleaming facade of modern Hong Kong.

About this title

Review

"A must-read for anyone interested in modern-day China, and where it goes from here" --Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group
"A welcome addition to the literature on contemporary Hong Kong . . . tracing the city's recent history through a series of unforgettable profiles of young Hong Kong residents." --Kevin Carrico, Macquarie University
"A David versus Goliath tale about a generation who are defying the stereotype of the Great Mall of China and fighting for change." --Sydney Morning Herald
"Bland's writing is tremendous fun . . . the structure and style help give the book an accessibility and freshness." --Bookish Asia
"Generation HK shows Bland's skills as a reporter . . . [and] provides an overview otherwise missing." --Asian Review of Books
"Ben Bland talks to an astounding variety of actors in this fast-changing drama--student activists, business moguls, even superstar language tutors--to build a compelling picture of Hong Kong youth caught between a fading British past and an uncertain future under Beijing." --Rana Mitter, University of Oxford China Centre
"Ben Bland's book provides a fascinating insight into the thinking of Hong Kong's younger citizens and in the process offers hope for Hong Kong's future." --Chris Patten, former governor of Hong Kong
"A thoroughly reported look at the city's youth, from the student leaders of the 2014 Occupy street protests, via tutors and the super-rich, to radical advocates of independence from China." --Reuters
"Throughout the book, Bland . . . makes the most makes the most of two key assets. One is a lively prose style. The other is a deft ability to slip in illuminating comparative comments based on his experience covering other parts of Asia." --Times Literary Supplement

About the Author

Ben Bland is the South China correspondent for the Financial Times. Prior to this, he was their correspondent in Indonesia and Vietnam. He is currently stationed in Hong Kong.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0734398506
• ISBN 13: 9780734398505
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 127