邊際危城: 資本、帝國與抵抗視野下的香港

by Ho-fung Hung, 程向剛 (Translator)

數十年來，香港在大國的權力競逐之間始終保有著一種岌岌可危的自由。本書提供了一個及時且深入的敘述，說明香港如何從一個偏遠的漁村一路發展到九七之後的現狀。作者針對大量的經濟數據、政治事件、行為者與理念予以精細地分析，讓讀者得以了解香港在2019年爆發大規模抗爭的經濟、政治與社會成因，在此同時，又要明白這些抗爭必須放在全球金融體系與美中對抗的地緣政治脈絡中予以看待。在討論到香港未來，作者認為2019-2020年的抵抗與壓迫不會是香港的終結，而是一個與全球震盪進行長期對抗的開始。

Genres: China, Politics, History, Nonfiction, Asia

Paperback

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Ho-fung Hung (Chinese: 孔誥烽) is an American sociologist and political scientist currently serving as the Henry M. and Elizabeth P. Wiesenfeld Professor in Political Economy at Johns Hopkins University.

Reviews

[Owen Hatherley]

Even if you're not altogether convinced by the author's political line (and I'm not - it is, very approximately, pro-HK independence from the left, on the basis that the PRC is an imperialist and even semi-fascist force whose economic doom is imminent) this is an excellent recent history of HK and its place in the Chinese and world economy: thoughtful, clear and allowing its arguments to come out of analysis rather than hectoring. Also notable for some breathtaking facts on the political trajectories of HK's civil society activists and governing elites (eg: did you know Chief Executive Carrie Lam's political career began as a Maoist housing activist? Now you do).

[Ben]

Living On The Edge

This was a good read on Hong Kong.

Now, I have read many books on Hong Kong lately, and this one was not as interesting as some of the others - to be honest.

It was still a good book to learn some world issues, but just not a groundbreaking book.

I would sooner recommend:
Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow the World: what China's Crackdown Reveals about Its Plans to End Freedom Everywhere, Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong, or City on Fire: The Fight for Hong Kong.

3.6/5

[Anjana]

I must admit to a very personal connection to this topic. I lived in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2020 and was physically very close to one of the bigger protests that took place and walked through one or two demonstrations in 2019. It was a complex time and one of the reasons ( although not the primary one) that we ended up moving.

This book focuses on the history of Hong Kong all the way back from before the British took control and covered information all the way up till now. It was a very detailed book that I’ve left a copy on my shelf if I ever want to reread it.

Many countries have complex histories and it only takes a little scratch to see below the surface. Given its prime location Hong Kong has had its fair share of changes over time. Some interesting facts I took away was the convenient economic position the country was in in the past for people ( or even other countries) wanting to circumvent their stance on bigger topics.

I will not go into any details since it’s an academically inclined book with graphs that I couldn’t see very well in my version but they supposedly reinforce the information we learn from the rest of the book. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in what lies before the newsworthy events of the last few years.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but my review is entirely based on my reading experience and my own emotional connection with the place.

[Jonathan F]

Super interesting book on Hong Kong more along the lines of what I've been looking for in a primer on Hong Kong, its history, and its relationship with China. Ho-fung Hung is a US-based economist who was raised and educated in Hong Kong, so is familiar with the city beyond academia. What I enjoyed the most about City on the Edge is the data. It's very well researched, especially on the economics side of the discussion, and the bibliography serves as a great source of direction for further reading.

[Kevin_Raccoon]

by Johns Hopkins社会学教授孔誥烽，相当不错的香港政治当代史，译文也很好。章节组织为三大部分——“资本”“帝国”“抵抗”，非常精准地抓住了香港政治从二战至今的核心矛盾和players。从80年代的“民主回归派”到2010年代陈云《香港城邦论》为代表的本地民族认同和本土派运动兴起，本土派中又分化出勇武派，本地的政治诉求被铁腕打压后伴随而来的总是诉求的进一步激进化。胡温时代还能和泛民谈判妥协一下，习时代后则进入了打压-激进化-更严打压-更加激进的循环。大加(dao)速(che)时代，未来的香港是转向cynical的政治冷漠，还是表面平静下的怒火潜流？“不要笑，不要哭，不要恨，要理解。”

[Yeemay]

Very sobering read about my Homeland in this modern day. Fascinating to read about the greater economic realities for Hong Kong over the last 50 odd years. I need to read an update of the current political and economic situation!

[Pengfei Fang]

站在一个旁观者的视角，也站在同情和希望HK 更好的视角，在中华帝国的另一个边陲之处，挣扎着挺拔着，那是狮子山下的不屈也是海阔天空的高歌～威权者只是一时的，我们比那些老者更长久，城邦和你我永存，我们持续抗争，更保持活力，时代革命，香港加油！

[Kevin Lam]

關於香港為何會變成現狀的一本必讀書。

[Beverly]

3.5 An important topic with a valuable macro lens, even if narrowed to a strictly neoliberal lens. It does read more like a juicy exposé rather than meticulously researched, and Hung’s approach could’ve been more critical, generally, to all parties and histories mentioned. But it’s a good overview to the 2019 protests.

[Nomatter Zheng]

2019年的香港抗争剧情已经把未来中国大陆剧情提前上演。非常赞同结尾的一段文字，「2019 年的抗爭和鎮壓，並非香港前途鬥爭的終結，而是一個新的開端」。