S A N D R A

The immediate history of Hong Kong in Canto-pop: a true voice of a Hong Konger who went through the turbulent periods of uncertainty

 

Why I am going to talk about this topic? When I read the articles and watch films of this period from 1980 to 1989, as the beginning of the negotiation of Hong Kong’s future and the June Fourth. It seems there’s no difference under the shadow of uncertainty in the life of Hong Kong people. However, I think it will be a lot of different in their life. I interview a Hong Konger who is now 60 year old and do business in that period. How he views his life and the situation of culture, economy and politics is reflected with song lyrics and the films. How the history event influences Hong Kong and cause? These are all I want to know and ask and question it.  The world also focuses on the change of this period as significance of the end the colonization.  

 

The period of 1970s, as background of 1980s:

 

The situation during 1970 is good and prosperous. Vincent is my interviewee. He was born in 1954 and his parents came from China in 1949. In early age, he lived in wooden house in Squatter area which is hill side, in Tai Hang West大坑西.  He got 45 HKD a month for education fund from foster parents (Canadians) through charity worldwide organization (培幼會). With the support, he could continue secondary education. At age of 17, the year of 1972, he graduated from secondary school

 

He started as worker in factory night time, and as telephone operator in hospital in day time for two years. At age 19(1974), he studied Radio telegraph. At age of 20 to 25, he changed the job to seaman (radio communication無線電) The payment was good that time that he earned 2400HKD per month at 21, 5000HKD/month at 25. At age of 25(1980), my interviewee bought the first property (460square feet) with saved money 110,000HKD (the present value: 4million), rent it out and earn more money.

 

As mentioned above, the economic situation and living condition is friendly for those who work hard. Even nowadays, the wages are all the same in ten years but the price hikes per year. I think it is a period of struggle and Hong Kong people fight for their destiny. Actually, in late 1970s, some landmark buildings are erected, like Sha Tin Racecourse in 1975 and Tuen Mun new town. New Territories are mostly constructed during this period.

 

  However, there is another voice towards 1970 conveyed in song lyrics. The song “Struggle” is popular and almost at the same time Cantopop rises up. “Cantopop was once very popular, not only in Hong Kong but also in its neighboring regions. Its rise in the 1970s was a result of its typical hybridity, an important aspect of which was influenced bu the use of cover versions that changed its soundscape” (YIU-WAI CHU and EVE LEUNG, Remapping Hong Kong popular music: cover, localization and the waning hybridity of Cantopop)

 

It was composed in 1978 by Joseph Koo describes the voice of Hong Kong people that time. It was sung by Jenny Tseng. With sorrow melodies and sad lyrics, the voice of strong and struggle shown below:

 

    “No matter how many waves we have weathered. No matter how much wind and snow we have endured”

    “No matter how many more times we have to struggle. Until you and I arrived at our destination”

    “I make thousands of your dreams come true. I ensure every wish of yours is fulfilled.”

    “I am eager to make the best effort for thousands of times. Just to build that happy and blessed home.”

 

The lyrics describes there is an image of home for them to come back. Most people came to Hong Kong in 1949, even after 30 years, their minds are belong to their homeland China. It’s hard and toilsome for them to build new life here. Although the lyrics are not so related to the economic situation directly, the situation is similar. Behind the prosperous development that time, Hong Kong people work hard and wish to go back to China.

 

    The song “Price Hike Fever”(加價熱潮) sung by Sam Hui in 1979, which is collected in his sixth album. Sam Hui, as a popular singer then, writes the lyrics bellowed.

  

“You are sacred, I am scared, and everyone is scared.

The price of cigarettes, liquors, rents, bases, taxis are all soaring

So are the prices of toasts and cheeses and everything else.

Prices keep shooting higher and higher”

 

    “Whatever, whatever, just take prices higher! People are now used to price hikes”

 

    “What else could have been done?”

 

“Stop rising prices. Things have gone too far.”

 

“Prices go up every hour. Prices go up every year. There is no limit, and people are pushed to their limits. Prices stop soaring. That gives me fear.”

 

The lyrics describe the living condition around 1979, which prices hike harshly. And people fear this living condition and don’t know how to face this kind of economic condition. Worries are exposed in the lyrics like “what else could have been done?”

 

    The combination of “work hard” and “back to China” form the atmosphere of this period. Also, they are beneficial from this certain prosper condition in Hong Kong. They speak up their voice; however, there is another voice from second generation like my interviewee Vincent who go through the most turbulent and changeable periods in 1980s.

 

The turbulent 1980s, the changeable situation:
 

  The interviewee was lucky. When he was 25 year old at1979, he started business with friends and rent the shop to sell toys by the rental 8000HKD per month and the rent is raised up to 180,000HKD per month at 1997. At 26 (1980), he got married.

 

Previously in 1980s, the economic situation gets more and more deteriorating under the uncertainty of the negotiations of Hong Kong’s future between China and British representatives. Under the shadow of returning to China, the bank dropped and economy declined seriously. At the beginning of 1980s, two representatives begin the negotiation of HK’s future. At the year of 1981 and 1982, under the shadow of returning to China, economy declined and the market dropped seriously.1982, Margaret Thatcher fell down in the steps in China. She is too shock. She didn’t think of China has such a strong determination to take back the rule and sovereignty of Hong Kong.

 

At 1984 when he is 30 years old, two representatives sign the draft of Joint Declaration. HK economy become stable and later boom up because they already sign the Joint Declaration, which is an agreement acceptable by China, by England and by the world. So it’s a good, important step. HK is going more prosperity. Vincent buy another property, and his business got better and better and earned some money. 1984 is an important year for a lot of people.

 

The song “the unspeakable future” composed by Lee Sau Chuen and Lau Cheuk Fai in 1986.

 

“Seeing the city under the mist, sad and dark”

“Began to love the TV, no need to think, facing the work confusingly, running around every day and night”

“Watching a movie occasionally, get happiness under the dark, playing your song that I love everyday. ”

“It was said, horse raising would not be prohibited, freedom of dancing.”

    “It was said here will not be changed I will stay.”

“You ask me. But, why can’t I tell how I feel towards the future?”

 

“The unspeakable future” reflects the minds of most Hong Kong people. Hong Kong become a prosperous big city but they are confused of future. 

 

    However, in 1989, June 4th happened. The interviewee is afraid of family’s security, and more than 1000000 people go to street and protest against what government did. The interviewee’s grandma said, “I think you would better to emigrate.” She was reluctant to let him immigrant previously. After seeing the incident on TV, she urged him to move and he decided to move

    

“On TV, you can see the crackdown, and the pictures terrible things happened in Tienanmen, and we don’t know what will happen after we return to China.We are afraid of China, even now. In HK, China can enforce their rules.”

 

What are Hong Kong people afraid for? I wonder. The interviewee told me, “we worry about if the government lost his patient to use army, Hong Kong still has liberation army now, what can we do? If you see the army use the tanks and bombs to shoot the people, how can a government do violent to students? I have the ability so I ran away.”

  

He listed three points what Hong Kong people afraid of:

 

During 1949 to 1979, so many incidents in China, especially political struggles.

At 1974, he was in China as a seaman and saw the crackdown of “gang of 4.” 1966-1976, China Revolution

 

With the business struggle and the political situation, Vincent, as a lot of Hong Kong people decided to immigrate to other countries, like Australia or Canadian.

Most people want to escape from HK. Australia, America and Canada invite them to be investors and entrepreneurs.

 

      1991, the application was proved

      1992, they moved to Toronto, Canada. He travelled between HK and Canada back and forth and still had the business in HK

1996, after getting the ID card, passport, and back to HK, he already have the identity of Canadian.

 

    And, what is the consequence of the immigration? What does it cause when all people immigrate to other countries? Some of them immigrated to another countries and sell all his properties in 3 to 4 millions (now is 40 millions, 10 times) and end their business in HK. They start a new business in another country not so successfully. They are not so lucky, and they lose a lot of money. And then they go back to HK, not even buy a toilet. The situations have all changed and not easy for them to start again. It’s harmful to some people. Some families (husband in HK, wife in other countries is not a good condition for managing a marriage) are also separated. The family broke down.

 

   In political part, the voice is like the “the unspeakable future.”

 

   In 1989, June Forth Event happened in China and the action by Communist Party army shock people everywhere. China, as a homeland for most Hong Kong people arouse panics toward them. There is a homeland called China, whose people suffer now. The lyrics reflect the conditions and determination that Hong Kong people would like to reunite together and fight for their truth.      

 

“For our dreams, we work in full throttle. To pursue breakthroughs, we are eager to give blood and sweat.”

“For our dreams, we give all that we can. To arrive that utopia, we are eager to build it with our home hands.”

“Let our dreams light us up. Let every effort turn into heat and light.”

“Let our spirit stay resilient; let us strive to stay strong forever; let our courage turn into head and light.”

“Darkness has brightened up. Let us work together to build our future.”

“This is our home. This is our place. This is our dream. We love Hong Kong.”

 

The song describes “dreams, future and home” in the lyrics. What it means? What are they pursuing when June Forth happened in mainland China? The interviewee told me they are angry with Communist Party, “How could they denied June Forth and say there’s nothing happened in China. All people in Hong Kong watch TV news anxiously, and they watch the bombing directly pointed to students and shoot to them. Tanks, and all blood.” He said all people protest outside against Tiananmen Square Massacre in a heavily raining day. Almost most Hong Kong people feel angry and sad with China. At the same time, they are afraid of Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong.  

 

Even now, there is some songs composed to memorize June Fourth Accident. Like “”

 

“Maybe tearful eyes stare and nobody would like to say”  

“Now we are faced with the unsmooth situation, memorize the past and miss China”   
   

“Memorize the past and honor the heroes, many true man please come here”

  “And wish you can recognize the tearful eyes on June 4th”

“Wish you know that we would go the same way, and in that time I was painful as you”

“My body was strapped here and cannot stand side by side with you”

“I was wordless heartbreakingly.”
   
  “Wish everyone would not be lament, not be lament at the night on June 4th”

  “Witness your deadness and filled with grieve, even though the dreams are not as expected and I am filled with the great ambitions. ”    
   

  “Even the frustrations and dreams are not as expected, I am filled with great ambotions.”

 

    After they returned to China, there is another situations and storied they have to face. The perplexity of China and Hong Kong and the rule of “One country, two system” still continued. And Vincent and the lyrics are the mirror toward that turbulent age makes me understand the true voice and how they face during that difficult time. Hong Kong sometimes is in a transitional way to define herself and people who live here. Wave between outside and China, and there is another path Hong Kong people should face in the following years.