Reflection #2 - 快樂人共並肩
2) 快樂人共並肩
The 2012 version of “今天應該很高興” took on a celebratory carnival-like re-arrangement, wiping off the sentimentalism from its original 1987 version and boiling the argument down to money.
The song was performed in front of a video that started with a world map in the middle: on the left was the face of Deng Xiao Ping, his features covered by the RMB sign, and on the right was the face of Margaret Thatcher, her features covered by the British Pound sign. Then for the duration of the song, statistical information about the history of the Hong Kong population was presented. Not only did it include information on the Hong Kong Chinese Diaspora in Western countries (a subject that the song’s original version was concerned with), but it also included other notable information: the increasing number of Mainland Chinese immigrating to Hong Kong, the increasing number of wealthy Mainland Chinese having immigrated and considering immigration, the increasing number of Hong Kong Chinese who have emigrated to China for work, the increasing number of Hong Kong Chinese who had emigrated overseas and have returned to Hong Kong or China in recent years, the amount of money invested in Hong Kong by Mainland Chinese immigrants, the amount of Chinese investment all over the world, and more.
In the face of these hard facts, it would be an understatement to say that the love-hate relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland has become much more complex than it was twenty-some years ago. The Hong Kong Chinese who feared Mainland back in the days now acknowledge Mainland as an economic anchor. But the more interesting case studies are those of the young individuals whose families were able to afford the luxury of moving overseas during the turmoil of the eighties and early nineties, and how, having been displaced and having consumed a Western education, these individuals, now in their working adult years, have chosen to return to Hong Kong. The irony of their post-millennium return to Hong Kong has many folds. While each case is unique, there are some common observations: these returnees make use of their overseas credentials to take on better paid jobs than their locally educated friends; they are better in English and weaker in Putonghua than the locally educated; they have a difficult time adjusting to the cultural changes that have taken place in Hong Kong since the time they left; they often return to Hong Kong (or China) with an economic, money-oriented focus. According to the sentimental protagonist in the original 1987 version of “今天應該很高興”, they are the missing pieces that would have made a Christmas season “高興” or “happier”.
What resonates in both the 1987 original and the 2012 version of “今天應該很高興” is encapsulated in the phrase “應該”. We “should” be so happy if only. If only what?
The 2012 version of “今天應該很高興” took on a celebratory carnival-like re-arrangement, wiping off the sentimentalism from its original 1987 version and boiling the argument down to money.
The song was performed in front of a video that started with a world map in the middle: on the left was the face of Deng Xiao Ping, his features covered by the RMB sign, and on the right was the face of Margaret Thatcher, her features covered by the British Pound sign. Then for the duration of the song, statistical information about the history of the Hong Kong population was presented. Not only did it include information on the Hong Kong Chinese Diaspora in Western countries (a subject that the song’s original version was concerned with), but it also included other notable information: the increasing number of Mainland Chinese immigrating to Hong Kong, the increasing number of wealthy Mainland Chinese having immigrated and considering immigration, the increasing number of Hong Kong Chinese who have emigrated to China for work, the increasing number of Hong Kong Chinese who had emigrated overseas and have returned to Hong Kong or China in recent years, the amount of money invested in Hong Kong by Mainland Chinese immigrants, the amount of Chinese investment all over the world, and more.
In the face of these hard facts, it would be an understatement to say that the love-hate relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland has become much more complex than it was twenty-some years ago. The Hong Kong Chinese who feared Mainland back in the days now acknowledge Mainland as an economic anchor. But the more interesting case studies are those of the young individuals whose families were able to afford the luxury of moving overseas during the turmoil of the eighties and early nineties, and how, having been displaced and having consumed a Western education, these individuals, now in their working adult years, have chosen to return to Hong Kong. The irony of their post-millennium return to Hong Kong has many folds. While each case is unique, there are some common observations: these returnees make use of their overseas credentials to take on better paid jobs than their locally educated friends; they are better in English and weaker in Putonghua than the locally educated; they have a difficult time adjusting to the cultural changes that have taken place in Hong Kong since the time they left; they often return to Hong Kong (or China) with an economic, money-oriented focus. According to the sentimental protagonist in the original 1987 version of “今天應該很高興”, they are the missing pieces that would have made a Christmas season “高興” or “happier”.
What resonates in both the 1987 original and the 2012 version of “今天應該很高興” is encapsulated in the phrase “應該”. We “should” be so happy if only. If only what?
posted by Adam C at
1:08 PM
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