Since the implementation of Individual Visit Scheme, the number of mainland visitors visiting Hong Kong has increased at a tremendous speed. Although it stimulated Hong Kong's economy and increased capital inflow, it has also brought about culture shock to Hong Kong people. The ‘uncivilized’ behaviors of mainlanders have been reported by various media and includes pooing and peeing in the public, littering and spitting, damaging public facilities, putting one’s foot on the opposite seat in public transportation, sitting on tables in public areas, washing feet using the drinking fountain, intercepting queues and speaking extremely loud etc.
Although these behaviors are tolerable in mainland China, in Hong Kong it is not due to cultural differences, and as a result these behaviors have become a prominent label for mainlanders. By assuming all people in mainland China have the tendency to perform in improper ways, mainlanders in Hong Kong face prejudice in nearly every context one can think of. This essay will first define what is prejudice, and then describe how worse is the situation that mainlanders are facing in Hong Kong in terms of prejudice, and afterwards analyze in what ways have cultural differences contributed to the distinction on level of acceptance to the above-mentioned improper behaviors, and finally give suggestions on how to eliminate this prejudice in terms of policy making.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is Prejudice?
3. Situation: How serious is prejudice faced by mainlanders in Hong Kong?
4. Analysis and Meta-analysis: Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships
5. Solutions
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the underlying cultural factors contributing to the prejudice faced by mainland visitors in Hong Kong, focusing on interpersonal dimensions such as control, affiliation, and activation, while proposing policy-based solutions to foster mutual understanding.
- Intercultural communication analysis of mainland and Hong Kong behavioral differences.
- The role of the medial prefrontal cortex in prejudice formation.
- Examination of the three dimensions of interpersonal relationships: control, affiliation, and activation.
- Impact of legal systems and social environment on cross-cultural behavior.
- Proposed strategies for improving tourism policies and language education to minimize social friction.
Excerpt from the Book
Analysis and Meta-analysis: Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships
The three dimensions of interpersonal relationships suggested by Lustig & Koester (2010), which is control, affiliation and activation, can help explain why certain behaviors of mainlanders are different from Hong Kong. Those mainlanders who visit Hong Kong can be quite rich and therefore assume themselves have much higher status than Hong Kong people. They think that they have helped Hong Kong people to maintain their living by bringing them capital, and that they have contributed a lot to tourism in Hong Kong. With high social dominance, they would exert control on those service which do not appeal to them. One typical case exemplifying this phenomenon happened in 2013, when a mainlander travelling on a boat to Hong Kong from Macau was told to put his perambulator properly, the man responded with this ‘bad service’ by insulting the staff on the ship as ‘dog staff’ and laughing at Hong Kong people that they ‘can be easily bullied’ (蘋果日報, 2013). This case suggests that some mainlanders just do not conserve exerting control over Hong Kong people, and this is one reason why Hong Kong people have hatred towards mainlanders, which results in prejudice consequently.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the surge in mainland visitors to Hong Kong, the resulting culture shock, and the essay's goal to define and address the systemic prejudice faced by mainlanders.
2. What is Prejudice?: Explores the psychological and neurological roots of prejudice, emphasizing the human tendency to favor perceived similarities and fear differences.
3. Situation: How serious is prejudice faced by mainlanders in Hong Kong?: Details the severe socio-political and personal discrimination faced by mainlanders, ranging from limited access to public housing to verbal abuse in public settings.
4. Analysis and Meta-analysis: Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships: Analyzes the friction between groups through the lenses of control, affiliation, and activation, contrasting mainland behavioral norms with those in Hong Kong.
5. Solutions: Proposes evidence-based strategies, including targeted tourism surveys and Putonghua language integration, to improve cross-cultural interaction and reduce prejudice.
6. Conclusion: Synthesizes the need for government intervention in tourism and education policy to facilitate smoother integration and communication as the 50-year transition period progresses.
Keywords
Prejudice, Mainlanders, Hong Kong, Intercultural Communication, Interpersonal Relationships, Control, Affiliation, Activation, Individual Visit Scheme, Tourism Policy, Putonghua, Social Friction, Cultural Differences, Integration, Mutual Understanding
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper investigates the causes of prejudice against mainland Chinese visitors in Hong Kong through an intercultural communication framework.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The key themes include the psychological basis of prejudice, the dimensions of interpersonal relationships (control, affiliation, activation), and the impact of systemic differences in legal and cultural environments.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The goal is to analyze why prejudice exists between mainlanders and Hong Kong residents and to suggest practical policy solutions to mitigate these social tensions.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The author employs a meta-analytical approach, applying established intercultural communication theories—specifically the dimensions of interpersonal relationships—to contemporary social incidents.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body examines behavioral clashes, the legal and environmental factors influencing affiliation, the psychological impact of culture, and specific strategies for enhancing cross-cultural interaction.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Prejudice, Intercultural Communication, Control, Affiliation, Activation, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.
How does the medial prefrontal cortex influence prejudice according to the text?
The text notes that different parts of the MPFC are activated when individuals observe people they perceive as similar versus those they perceive as different, highlighting a biological predisposition toward in-group preference.
What role does British colonial influence play in Hong Kong’s current cultural demeanor?
The author argues that British "gentleman culture," which emphasizes emotional restraint and quietness, has contributed to a lower level of "activation" in Hong Kong, contrasting sharply with traditional Chinese expressiveness.
Why do mainlanders potentially exhibit lower affiliation levels according to the author?
The author suggests that a lack of legal protection and fear of fraudulent litigation (e.g., the Pang Yu case) have created a societal environment where people are hesitant to assist strangers.
- Quote paper
- Bachelor of Education (Music) Kwan Lung Chan (Author), 2017, Prejudice Faced by Mainlanders in Hong Kong. An Intercultural Communication Analysis and Possible Solutions in Policy Making, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/448229
