Hong Kong Lawmaker's Proposal to Add Explanations to Colonial-Era Street Signs Criticized for Stirring Controversy

(CNA, by reporter Chang Chien, Hong Kong, 21st) Since Hong Kong's handover, authorities have taken some measures for de-Sinicization, but some Legislative Council members find them insufficient. A recent proposal to add explanations to some colonial-era street signs has been criticized by outsiders for stirring up unnecessary controversy. The Sing Tao Daily reported today that some Legislative Council members recently asked during a council inquiry whether the government would consider adding explanations with text and pictures at relevant locations to objectively present the historical background of local streets still named after British officials. The lawmakers also suggested adding QR codes next to historically valuable street signs, linking to an official national education information website. They also recommended selecting streets of major historical significance, such as those related to the Opium War and the War of Resistance against Japan, and injecting national education elements into the street sign explanations. However, the report states that even figures from the pro-government establishment camp disagree with the above suggestions. According to the report, Lau Siu-kai, a consultant for the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies who opposes the proposal, questioned, "If historical explanations are added to streets named after British officials, should they be from a critical perspective, questioning the immorality of the British occupation of Hong Kong, or should they praise the contributions of the British officials back then?" He said that the former would involve the perspective of China's national interests, and in fact, China was not in a hurry to reclaim Hong Kong at the time and had some positive evaluations of British rule. The latter, he argued, would be politically incorrect. Moreover, Hong Kong has numerous streets with colonial characteristics. Adding explanations would entail a massive workload, and selecting only a few would appear scattered and not uniform. He believes the proposal is politically unnecessary, and Hong Kong society has no time for a "great historical debate" that could spark political controversy. A better approach, he thinks, is to teach the relevant history comprehensively and systematically in primary and secondary school national education curricula. As for adding introductory signs at sites of the War of Resistance against Japan, Lau said the history is already settled, making it much simpler to handle. In addition, relevant government departments responded to the proposal by stating that the Lands Department, which is responsible for naming local streets, has long included virtues promoted by traditional Chinese culture, such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity, as one of the criteria for street naming. If needed, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department can provide historical information about the streets. The report also indicated that Hong Kong's street names and old buildings are traces of its history and culture that need not be deliberately erased; on the contrary, they make one cherish "One Country, Two Systems" even more. Attempting to "objectively introduce" the history of street names through text and images is not only difficult to handle but may also stir up unnecessary controversy. (Editor: Lu Chia)