The Hong Kong Studies Initiative (HKSI) Newsletter

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29 September 2023

Hosted by the Department of Asian Studies, the Hong Kong Studies Initiative (HKSI) at the University of British Columbia is devoted to promoting the teaching and research of this most-improbable metropolis, both as an extraordinary Chinese city and as a spectacular international and transnational hub.

FROM THE CONVENORS

Dear Friends of HKSI,

Welcome to the new season of activities and events of the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative!

As you will read more below, we are excited that our undergraduate students will now have the option to complete a minor with a focus on Hong Kong. We are grateful for the hard work and support of our colleagues and students, and we look forward to continuing enriching our offerings.

Over the course of this year, we will, as we have done so since our launch in 2017, curate a range of academic and community events and discussions to promote the study of Hong Kong. In addition to our faculty and graduate student associates, we are very pleased that we will be assisted by fourth-year student Nicola Fong, who will be working closely with us as the HKSI communications associate.

Finally, we would like to make a special note that our program this year is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Chi Shum Watt (1938–2023), a long-time benefactor and champion of HKSI, the Cantonese Language Program, as well as other academic and educational causes at UBC. He will be missed.

With very best wishes for a merry Mid-Autumn Festival and the new academic year,

Leo K. Shin
Associate Professor
History and Asian Studies
Co-Convenor, HKSI

Helena Wu
Canada Research Chair, Hong Kong Studies
Assistant Professor, Asian Studies
Co-Convenor, HKSI

MINOR IN ASIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
(HONG KONG)

We are pleased to announce that undergraduate students at the University of British Columbia now have the option to pursue a minor in Asian Language and Culture with a focus on Hong Kong.

What is the rationale behind the addition of this minor option?

The Department of Asian Studies at UBC has long encouraged students, regardless of their majors, to develop competency in one or more of the Asian languages offered and to gain an in-depth understanding of one or more of the cultural areas studied. After years of gestation, the Department is pleased to be able to now offer students a range of Cantonese-language and Hong Kong–related courses.

What is the language requirement for this minor option?

Students are required to complete 12–18 credits of CHIN or CNTO courses, of which at least 6 credits must be for courses at or above the 300-level with the prefix CNTO (for Cantonese).

What is the “culture” requirement for this minor option?

Students are required to complete 12–18 credits of ASIA or ASIX courses, of which at least 12 credits must be for courses at or above the 300-level that are related to Hong Kong.

Where can one find out more details?

Please visit the minor option page (hksi.ubc.ca/minor) or contact the departmental undergraduate advisor.

FEATURED EVENT

Screening + Academic x Filmmaker Conversation
Friday, 27 October 2023, 18:00–20:00 PDT
AERL 120, Aquatic Ecosystems Research Lab
(2202 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver)

Join us for the screening of The Grass is Greener on the Other Side 野草不盡 (2022), a documentary that explores the persistence of trauma, the question of identity, and the quest for a place called home among Hongkongers in diaspora. The post-screening conversation will feature a sharing by director Crystal Wong and HKSI Faculty Associate Dr. Miu Chung Yan (UBC School of Social work).

In person event. Registration required.

This event is organized by the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative and supported by the Department of Asian Studies.

ON CAMPUS

September 30: The Cantonese Language Program to hold a (hybrid) Cantonese language workshop.

October 5: The Department of Asian Studies to host its signature Welcome Back Night to celebrate Asian languages and cultures.

October 10: HKSI Emeritus Associate Dr. David Ley (FRSC, Order of Canada) to present at the colloquium series of the Department of Geography on his latest book Housing Booms in Gateway Cities (Oxford UP, 2023), which features Hong Kong as one of its case studies.

OFF CAMPUS

Sep 28 – Oct 8: The 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival to present feature films Winter Chants 冬未來 (dir. Tsang Tsui Shan) and In Broad Daylight 白日之下 (dir. Lawrence Kan).

PAST EVENT

September 5: At our Imagine Day event, we hosted a trivia game, offered snacks, and provided information about Hong Kong–related courses and the newly-launched minor option at UBC (photos).

Please kindly consider a tax-deductible donation to HKSI (hksi.ubc.ca/support-us). Thank you, as always, for your support of the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative.