In 1924 and 1925, the British government organised the British Empire Exhibition in London to promote cooperation within the British Empire. Hong Kong took part, with its own exhibition area - the Hong Kong Section – to show this small colony to the British public. Two major general strikes, both of which involved major political parties from China, took place in Hong Kong before and during the exhibition. Yet, the Hong Kong Section did not provoke anticolonial sentiments but presented new images of Hong Kong rather successfully.
The speaker recently organised an exhibition about the Hong Kong Section. Besides displaying items about the Hong Kong Section, the exhibition also recreated a three-dimensional architectural model of the Hong Kong Pavilion – an eclectic building combining the features of Chinese joss house and European verandah house. During the talk, the speaker outlines the organising process of the Hong Kong Section and examines how the Hong Kong Section exhibited Hong Kong.
The Speaker
Dr Gary Pui-fung Wong is a lecturer in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds. His research and teaching focus on Hong Kong society, Asian media studies and popular culture, urban studies, as well as culture and heritage. He has been a lecturer in Hong Kong (the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong), London (Kingston University) and Suzhou (HKU Space Suzhou College).
He is a grant recipient of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Japan Sociological Society, Gallant Ho Experiential Learning Centre of HKU, Knowledge Exchange Office of HKU, Lord Wilson Heritage Trust and Universitas 21. His books include Two Exhibitions between Two Strikes, Flat C, 18/F; Evacuating from London and the Chinese version of City of Darkness (co-editor – awarded Hong Kong Book Prize 2015).
Venue: Online on Zoom, please sign up to receive the link
Admission: No charge, please register your attendance in advance
Booking: Please email membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk in advance to register your attendance