Confirming and Dispelling Myths: A Study of Political Consciousness through Media and Education

1. Confirming and Dispelling Myths:A Study of Political Consciousness through Media and Education Kevin Williams Stephen Wong Tze Hang Sally Mok Siu Ngar Cindy Ho Sze Man January, 2005

2. Introduction • Label of Political Apathy • 1997 • Large Scale Demonstrations • Leaves Questions

3. Accepted Explanations for the Myth -Chinese Cultural Attributes -Pressure from Beijing -Economic Propensity -Colonialism -Social Practice -Distrust of Government

4. Influence of Education and Mass Media • Role Education plays in society • Learned intellectual approaches • Role of Media in Society • Representation on events • Explanation and reflection on issues

5. Education Educational hierarchy • Banding system • Two public examinations • Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) • Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) • Post-secondary Education

6. Aims of Education system • Provide equitable access to nine years' free and universal primary and junior secondary education to all children and provide subsidized senior secondary education or training to all Secondary 3 willing to continue education. • Provide a balanced and diverse school education that meets the different needs of our students, and help them build up knowledge, values and skills for further studies and personal growth. • Enhance students' bilingual and trilingual abilities. • Enhance teaching quality and effectiveness in learning. • Improve the learning and teaching environment. • Help newly arrived children from the Mainland integrate into the local school system as soon as possible. • enhance the quality, flexibility and accountability of school administration

7. Interviewees • A. E. Sweeting, PhD. – Department of History: Visiting Professor HKU • Eric C. Y. Lai – History Master Student: HKU • Joanna Wong Wing Sze – Business Undergraduate Student: HKU • David Tsui Sung Pong – Geography Undergraduate Student: HKU • Francis Mok Him Man – Secondary School Student • Lee King Hung – Secondary School Student

8. Opinion of Interviewees • Are Hong Kong residents apathetic? • Myth • Passivity rather than apathy • Does the Hong Kong education system reinforces passivity? • Interviewees agree

9. Reasons • Curriculum • Detached • Tight • No Proper civic education • Examination System • Recitation/memorization oriented • Quality of teachers • Non-degree holder • Attitude • School Policies • Promotion oriented • Inefficient use of Government resources

10. Two public television stations ATV TVB Thriving studio-based narrative film industry Three radio stations RTHK Metro Radio Commercial Radio Lack of emphasis on journalism as a profession Economy based artistic pursuit Media

11. Interviewees • Peter Yung Wai-Chuen – Head of Producing/Production Management; School of Film and Television: The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts • Mark Erder – Managing Director: Asia Pacific Vision • Christopher Slaughter – Business Development and Programming: Asia Pacific Vision • Dima Khatib – Roving Correspondent: Al-Jazirah • John Elphinstone – Free lance cameraman/editor • Andy Hui-Shing Lau – Psychology Undergraduate Student: College of William and Mary • Janice Chan – Psychology Undergraduate Student: College of William and Mary • Li Chen Wing – Former Journalist: TVB • Chan Chi Kin – Representative: HKU representative for the Hong Kong Federation of Students

12. Television and radio industries • Entertainment-oriented • Peak timeslots: soap operas • Avoidance of sensitive political topics • More reports on social and economic issues • Neutral stand in political issues, especially those about the Beijing Government and the Chinese leaders • Most criticisms towards HKSAR Government • RTHK: major producer of programs related to political issues • Operated by HKSAR Government • For satisfying public • More indirect ways in conveying the political messages • E.g. Jin Zhi Yu Nie : showing discontent towards tradition of power struggle in Beijing Government

13. Press industry • More reports and comments on HK and Beijing political issues • Clearer stands • Apple Daily, Oriental Daily: criticizing HKSAR government most of the time • Mingpao, Sing Tao: more neutral stand • Takungpao: more Pro-Beijing Government • More columns and articles commenting on sensitive political topics • General immaturity of Press Corps

14. Film Industry • Studio based narrative industry • Independent Drama • Began 1997 • On the rise: some institutional encouragement • Some garner acclaim • Address social issues more often than politics • Documentary • Dominated by news industry (neutral in essence) • Lacks distribution venues • Lack interest from consignment firms • Small underground movement exists

15. Activities • Films Screened • The Circle’s Corner (Lam Kin Hung, 2001) • Y.M. – Yeung Ming (Chow Wing Fung, 2002) • Rice Distribution (Tammy Cheung, 2002) • Kung Fu Hustle (Chow, 2004) • Various Shorts • Places Visited • City Forum • HMV • Hong Kong Film Archives

16. Reasons • Intangible pressure from Chinese Communist Government, especially after 1997 • TV and Radio: Securing interests: keeping advertisers • Public interests and needs: mainly entertainment and leisure

17. Opinion of interviewees • Most Hong Kong people are not politically apathetic • Emphasis on the necessities for watching and reading news daily for students • Hot discussions on political issues in family and with friends • Lots of online discussion boards and forums • Political gatherings and functions held in schools, e.g. joining the July 1 Mass Demonstration; protests against Article 23 • Student political association: Hong Kong Federation of Students • The “fact of participation”

18. Stands and opinions of media affecting the thought of most Hong Kong people • Most popular newspapers, Oriental Daily and Apple Daily => most Hong Kong people not supporting HKSAR government policies • Negative images of active participation in politics created by media • Traditional social values • Involvement in politics is not condoned • Parents do not allow youth to participate in political activities

19. Passivity of Hong Kong residents • Problems in Educational system • Very few chances for expressing views • Improvement after 1997 • More students enrolled in Politics courses • More big events which provoke the “nationalism” among Hong Kong residents, e.g. Article 23, outbreak of SARS => more concern towards the “one country, two systems” • Increasing number of voters

20. Weaknesses in Approach • Narrow spectrum of interview subjects • Education level • Professional similarity • Consciousness of western systems

21. Conclusion • Apathy is a matter of definition • All social spheres participating in some manner • Thoughts of academic sphere • Style of governmental approach