University of Toronto

HIS385H1-F
HISTORY OF HONG KONG
Summer 2016
Chin Lim
SS Rm. 3059
chin.lim@utoronto.ca
Office hours: Tues/Thurs. 12:00-1:00pm
This course examines the growth of Hong Kong from a trading port set up by Great
Britain in the mid-19th century, to the citys rise as a major center of world economy and
Chinese diaspora in the 20th century, culminating with its return to Chinese sovereignty in
1997. It focuses on both Hong Kongs internal developments and broader contexts,
including a comparative consideration of British colonialism in East- and Southeast Asia.
During Hong Kongs first century of existence, a society of sojourners Chinese
migrants and British and other expatriates was formed under British colonial rule. In
the same period, Hong Kong functioned as a point of exchange between China and the
outside world, for goods, ideas and people. For three decades after the establishment of
the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, Hong Kong lost a good deal of its function as an
entrepot between China and the West. However, its economy underwent rapid
industrialization, and became significant on the global scene. At the same time, unique
social, political, and cultural patterns arose, distinct from other Chinese-speaking or
English-speaking societies. In 1997, the United Kingdom handed sovereign power over
the territory to a vastly different Peoples Republic of China, initiating significant
changes in Hong Kong.
The course consists of 12 two-hour lectures with assigned readings as set out below.
Students should complete the readings before each lecture. The course reader is available
at the University of Toronto Bookstore (214 College Street)
EVALUATIONS

Short Paper
Quiz
Essay
Examination

10%
20%
30%
40%

SHORT PAPER (10%, 4 pages)

Choose a topic listed on the handout posted on Blackboard. Write a 4-page paper using
information from your choice of sources (for example, print/electronic media, websites,
or online resources.) All sources must be in the English-language. Refer to handout on
Blackboard for more details.
QUIZ (20%)
The quiz assesses familiarity with information, places, and events that are significant in
Hong Kong history. The quiz includes short-answer questions, a map exercise, and a
chronology exercise.
ESSAY (30%, 10-12 pages)
Identify ONE lecture topic as the basis of your essay topic. You may construct a topic that
is not identical, but related, to the lecture topic. The essay will allow you to study an
aspect of Hong Kong history in more depth and is intended to develop your higher-level
abilities of analysis, synthesis, and comparison. You are required to make use of all
materials from the assigned readings, lectures, and other relevant academic sources.
Papers that do not make use of the pertinent required readings will not be accepted.
(Refer to Blackboard for information on how to cite academic and non-academic sources
properly)
EXAMINATION (40%, 2 hours)
An Examination will be held during the examination period (June 20-24, 2016). The
examination will be based on materials from all lectures and readings in the course. Do
not make travel plans until the examination date is confirmed by the university.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SUBMITTING PAPERS
All papers must be typed, double-spaced, with size 12 font, using standard margins and
page numbers. Submissions must be made through Blackboard only.
REQUEST FOR EXTENSION AND LATE PAPERS
All assignments are due on the stipulated dates unless an extension has been sought and
granted before the due date. Request for extension will be considered only in the case of
verifiable medical or critical family emergencies. Late assignments will be penalized
5% per day for the first 5 days of lateness and will not be accepted thereafter.
Computer or printer failure does not constitute ground for an extension.
MISSED QUIZ
Make-up quiz is given only in very unusual circumstances. A request must include
verifiable documentation and made within 24 hours after the scheduled quiz.
Request for make-up due to conflict with travelling or vacation plan will not be accepted.

E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE
Each e-mail must clearly identify the sender and subject information. Unidentified emails will be erased. Check course syllabus carefully before sending a question through
e-mail.
BLACKBOARD
The course uses Blackboard for announcements, handouts, assignment submission and
grades. Lecture slides and notes will not be posted on Blackboard due to copyright
restrictions.
TURNITIN
This course uses Turnitin.com. Students must make a separate electronic submission of
each assigned paper to http://www.turnitin.com/. Create a new student account or use an
existing account on www.turnitin.com. Use the Class ID (126096658) and Class
Password (victoria) to enroll in our class.
Normally, students will be required to submit their course essays to Turnitin.com for a
review of textual similarity and detection of possible plagiarism. In doing so, students
will allow their essays to be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference
database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. The
terms that apply to the University's use of the Turnitin.com service are described on the
Turnitin.com web site.
Students agree that by taking this course all required papers will be subject to submission
for textual similarity review on Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All
submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference
database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. The terms that
apply to the Universitys use of the Turnitin.com service are described on the
Turnitin.com website.
Speak with the course instructor if you have concerns regarding submitting papers to
turnitin.com.
PLAGIARISM
Students are expected to be familiar with the University of Torontos policies on
plagiarism and un-academic practices. Submitting work that is not your own will incur
severe penalties. At the discretion of the instructor, you may be required to clarify
certain points in the written assignments or to account for your source materials at
an individual interview before a grade is awarded.

LECTURE SCHEDULE
Week 1 (May 10/12)
Lecture:
Readings:

Pre-history to founding of colony

1) Robarts Library E-journal: Bernard Hung-kay Luk, Hong Kong
History and Culture, Chinese Sociology and Anthropology Vol. 30,
Issue 3 (Spring 1998), 13-24.
2) A. Birch, Approaches to Hong Kong history
3) T.N. Chiu, Port of Hong Kong, Chapter 1
4) D. Faure, Hong Kong, Colonial Society
5) C. Munn, Anglo-China Chinese People and British Rule in Hong Kong,
1841-1880, Chapter 1

May 12
May 15

Course waiting list turned off

Last day to add course
Week 2 (May 17/19)

SHORT PAPER due on Blackboard no later than 11:59pm, May 20

Lecture:
Entrepot of trade, people, and ideas
Readings:
1) T.N, Chiu, Port of Hong Kong, Chapter 2
2) W.K. Chan, The making of Hong Kong society, Chapter 3
3) C. Smith, The English-educated Chinese elite in 19th-century Hong
Kong
4) K.N. Vaid, Overseas Indian Community in Hong Kong, Chapter 1
Week 3 (May 24/26)
Lecture:
Readings:

Social and Economic Developments, 1910s-1930s

1) N. Miners, Hong Kong under imperial rule, 1912-1941, Chapter 1
2) N. Miners, The attempts to abolish the mui tsai system in Hong Kong,
1917-41
3) T.N. Chiu, Port of Hong Kong, Chapter 3
Week 4 (May 31/June 2)

QUIZ in class May 31

Lecture:
Battle of Hong Kong and Japanese Occupation
Readings:
1) D. Faure, The Second World War and the Japanese Occupation
2) J. Young, The building years: maintaining a China-Hong Kong-Britain
equilibrium, 1950-71
3) A.J. Youngson, Hong Kong economic growth and policy, Chapter 1
4) D. Faure, The return to immigrant society, 1945-1966

June 3

Examination timetable posted on Arts and Science website

June 6

Last day to drop F course without academic penalty

Last day to add/remove CR/NCR option in F course
Week 5 (June 7/9)

Lecture:
Readings:

Post-World War 2 Transformations

1) S.K. Lau and H.C. Kuan, The Ethos of the Hong Kong Chinese, Ch. 1
2) A. Leung, Perspectives on Hong Kong society, Chapter 3
3) Wang Gung-wu, Chineseness: the dilemmas of place and practice
4) R. Buckley, Hong Kong: the road to 1997, Chapter 4
5) J. Tang & F. Ching, Balancing the Beijing-London-Hong Kong three
legged stool, 1971-1986
Week 6 (June 14/16)

ESSAY due on Blackboard no later than 11:59pm, June 17

Lecture:
Decolonization and Special Administrative Region
Readings:
1) S. Tsang, Hong Kong: appointment with China, Chapter 5
2) M. Chan, Democracy de-railed: Realpolitik in the making of the Hong
Kong Basic Law, 1985-1990
3) M. Chan, Global implications of Hong Kongs retrocession to Chinese
sovereignty
4) A. So and M. Chan, Crisis and transformation in the Hong Kong SAR
5) M. Chan, The legacy of British administration of Hong Kong
2-HOUR EXAM during Examination Period, June 20-24