Hong Kong grapples with keeping its colonial past.
NHK WORLD-JAPAN3.47m subscribers
The phrase “History is written by the winners” (often attributed to Winston Churchill, though its origins are likely older) suggests that the version of the past we accept as “fact” is essentially the narrative that serves the interests of those who came out on top.
It implies that history is not a neutral playback of events, but a curated story. Here is what that actually entails in practice. Erasure: Defeated civilizations often have their libraries burned, their monuments toppled, and their records destroyed (e.g., the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs).
Selection Bias: When future historians look back, they can only work with the records that remain. If only one side’s letters, diaries, and government documents survived, that side’s perspective becomes the “default” reality. To justify their victory or the status quo, winners often portray their predecessors or enemies in the worst possible light.
The “Barbaric” Other: Romans wrote extensively about the “barbaric” Celts and Carthaginians. Because we have very few Carthaginian records, our image of them is largely filtered through the lens of the Romans who destroyed them. In this post, we explore this, as Hong Kong grapples with keeping its colonial past courtesy of NHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS. Here is a breakdown of what this “grappling” entails in the current climate: Renaming and Rebranding: There is ongoing debate and movement toward renaming streets or parks that honor British monarchs or colonial administrators.
The Postbox Controversy: Even small things, like the royal cypher (the “ERII” crown) on old red postboxes, have become flashpoints. The government has faced pressure to cover or remove these emblems to reflect a “post-colonial” reality, while citizens often see them as essential “urban DNA.”
NHK WORLD-JAPAN3.47m subscribers
The Official Narrative: The official stance increasingly characterizes the British era not as a “legitimate government” but as a period of foreign occupation.
Watch the video: Click here
The Struggle: For many residents, the colonial era—while far from perfect—is associated with the birth of the city’s unique legal system, civil service, and international character. Grappling with this means trying to remember a history that the current educational curriculum is actively de-emphasizing. Watch the video: Click here
Expedia has what you want, when you want, when it comes to travel. To book, click here
Why read about it, when you can be it. We have things to do in Hong Kong. Click here
Watch the video, below. Click here
Wherever you go, take insurance. World Nomads are there for you. Click here