Co-creating Communities Ada Wong

Hong Kong150 years as a colony14 years as a “Special Administrative Region” of China

The last 14 years – Witnessed the awakening of civic awareness of

Hong Kongers and a gradual “decolonization” and identity searching process. The post 80s and post 90s generation, in particular, demands more participation in decision making and the right to be heard

Also witnessed the gradual “re-colonization” and the erosion of autonomy in this half-baked democracy with think tanks and officials in Beijing controlling all major decision making. Civic engagement is but lip service

Hong KongThree examplesIndependence of judiciary being questionedseen by Beijing officials as an anomaly and Xi Jianping (Vice Chair of CCP) has called on the HK judiciary to be more “cooperative”.

administrative efficiency over quality of lifeRecently, after a citizen won a judicial review case over a flawed environmental impact assessment of the HK-Macau bridge and thereby delaying the building of this infrastructure, Chief Executive Donald Tsang accused the Civic Party (who helped the citizen) of abusing the legal process and preventing the economic integration of China and Hong Kong.

Abuse of police powersYoung artists using chalk to write, on the pavement of a busy street, names of those students who died in the Sichuan earthquake because of shoddy construction were accused of “criminal damage”.

The Wedding Card Street (2004-07)

town hall meeting at

Wedding Card Street

the community’s “dumbbell” plan to revitalize Wedding Card Street

But these efforts failed

Star Ferry and Queen’s Pier (2006-8)

“Returning Hong Kong to the people”

We are all Queens! Reclaiming the “royal” pier as public place

But these efforts also failed

Choi Yuen Village

“fake consultation”

“expensive XRL at HK$60 billion”

Hundreds of villagers and young people circled the Legislative Council building, following an ascetic practice of bowing and kneeling

Creative ways of making themselves seen

Solidarity - a fb call to gather over 1,000 people for this photo to support the village

Grandma Ko as Avatar

Inspired by villagers, young people learn to farm and reflect on an alternative lifestyle

Family homes bulldozed

Co-creating a new Choi Yuen Village

An arts festival in the ruins

The new Choi Yuen Village

What’s next?An empowered young generation vs a disempowered government-But how could these efforts be scaled and affect a larger critical mass?

Tension between “compulsory national education in school” vs freedom of thought and Hong Kong as a unique identity

- A continuing debate on the democratic future of Hong Kong against Beijing’s control paranoia of social unrest