State of Hong Kong Studies

9-11 June 2023

To take stock of the field, the "State of Hong Kong Studies" workshop hosted 5 special sessions and 28 panel presentations by 36 academics of different disicplines from around the world. By showcasing the diversity of methodologies and approaches, we hope to stimulate further research, facilitate conversation between a wide range of disciplines and research topics, and continue to build capacity within Hong Kong studies as a site of knowledge production and subject (trans)formation.

The workshop is generously supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Watt Family-Hong Kong Studies Initiative Fund, UBC Department of Asian Studies, UBC Department of History, UBC Centre for Chinese Research, St. John's College, and the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs.

In the academic year 2022/2023, the "City Rebegins" series examined the ever-changing new normal and its implications for communities in Hong Kong, Canada and beyond in a series of webinars, conversations, film screenings, and associated events.

This series was made possible by the generous support of the Watt Family - Hong Kong Studies Initiative Fund as well as by: Department of Asian Studies, Department of History, Centre for Chinese Research, Department of Theatre and Film, Public Humanities Hub, and the School of Social Work.

Our other event partners include UBC Asian Library, UBC Community Engagement, UBC Department of Political Science, UBC Robson Square, SFU Institute for Transpacific Cultural Research, SFU Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, Chinatown Storytelling Centre, HK House, Ho Tam Press, Illume Films, Queer Reads Library, and Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society.

Becoming Communities: The Changing Face of Community Activism in Hong Kong

7 October 2022

Dr. Samson Yuen, of Hong Kong Baptist University, examined community activism beyond the realm of street politics in Hong Kong [webcast | photos].

The Moral Limits of Violence in Political Resistance

23 November 2022

In this lecture, Prof. Joseph Cho-wai Chan discussed the ethics of war and the ethics of individual self-defense in the context of resistance movements. The talk was followed by a discussion led by Dr. Shoufu Yin (UBC History) [photos].

Keep Rolling: Four Stories about Hong Kong under the Pandemic

26 January 2023

The Canada premiere of Keep Rolling 動態 Rolling, a collection of four indie short films made by four Hong Kong directors about the pandemic, was well attended by students, university, and community members. The screening was accompanied by a lively conversation between the producer, the filmmakers, and the audience [photos].

Screening of Rouge + Special Exhibition about Leslie Cheung

25 March 2023

The restored edition of Hong Kong film classic Rouge 胭脂扣 was showcased at UBC Robson Square, followed by a conversation with director Stanley Kwan co-hosted by Prof. Helen Leung, of Simon Fraser University, and HKSI Convenor Dr. Helena Wu. The event was accompanied by a special exhibition about Leslie Cheung, co-curated by HKSI Faculty Associate Dr. Su-Anne Yeo (Asian Studies) and Phoebe Chow (Asian Library) and presented by UBC Asian Library, with the support of HKSI, the Department of Asian Studies, and the Department of Theatre and Film [photos].

Hong Kong New Directors in Conversation: Ho Cheuk Tin & Ka Sing Fung

17 May 2023

Directors Ho Cheuk Tin 何爵天 and Ka Sing Fung 賈勝楓 spoke with independent filmmaker Jimmy Lo (UBC Film Studies) and HKSI Convenor Dr. Helena Wu regarding their filmmaking experience in Hong Kong. Between challenges and aspirations, Ho and Ka demonstrated how a new generation of directors navigate the cultural landscape of Hong Kong and beyond. The event was presented by HKSI and Illume Films, with the support of HK House [photos].

Dr. Fuyubi Nakamura, Michael M. Ames Prize for Innovative Museum Anthropology

Dr. Christopher Rea, UBC Faculty Research Award

Dr. Shannon Walsh, Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts

Dr. Helena Wu, Canada Research Chair in Hong Kong Studies

Over the past year, HKSI Faculty Associates have shared their insights on, among other topics, Canada–China relations, the Cantonese language, Chinese/Hong Kong Canadians, Hong Kong culture, Hong Kong diasporic communities, the changing political ecology in Hong Kong, and the 25th anniversary of the Handover.

Exchange between UBC Cantonese Language Program and the Palacký University Olomouc

15 July 2022 / 2-4 November 2022

In July 2022, Dr. Joanna Ut-Seong Sio and Dr. Luís Morgado da Costa of the Palacký University Olomouc in the Czech Republic presented a webinar titled "Chinese Language Technology for Research and Education" to the instructors from the UBC’s Chinese Language Program and Cantonese Language Program. In November 2022, Raymond Pai and Dr. Zoe Lam of UBC Cantonese Language Program paid a visit to the Palacký University Olomouc and presented their work at the Sinophone Conference: What is Hua?.

Survey on Hong Kong Residents Recently Arrived in Canada: Results and Implications

In collaboration with HKSI, Community Family Services of Ontario, and Vancouver Hong Kong Forum Society, a research team at UBC, led by HKSI Faculty Associate Prof. Miu Chung Yan (Social Work), conducted an online survey to better understand the settlement and integration conditions of this new wave of Hong Kong residents to Canada. The first report has been released during an online forum held on 12 June 2023.