China's New United Front Work in Hong Kong

This book explores the dynamics of China’s new united front work in Hong Kong. Mainland Chinese penetrative politics can be seen in the activities of local pro-Beijing political parties, clans and neighborhood associations, labor unions, women and media organizations, district federations, and some religious groups. However, united front work in the educational and youth sectors of civil society has encountered strong resistance because many Hong Kong people are post-materialistic and uphold their core values of human rights, the rule of law and transparency. China’s new united front work in Hong Kong has been influenced by its domestic turn toward “hard” authoritarianism, making Beijing see Hong Kong’s democratic activists and radicals as political enemies. Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” is drifting toward “one country, two mixed systems” with some degree of convergence. Yet, Taiwan and some foreign countries have seen China’s united front work as politically destabilizing and penetrative. This book will be of use to scholars, journalists, and observers in other countries seeking to reckon with Chinese influence.

Sonny Shiu-Hing Lo is Professor of Politics at the School of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Hong Kong. 

Steven Chung-Fun Hung is Assistant Professor in Social Sciences at the Education University of Hong Kong. 

Jeff Hai-Chi Loo is Research Assistant in Political Science at Hong Kong Lingnan University.

“This book about “penetrative politics and its implications” provides by far the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and wonderfully detailed account of Hong Kong politics.  It shows how the mainland’s centralist Party attracts tycoons and proletarians, educators and Fujian associations, democrats and patriots to its cause of trying to control Hong Kong – and later, Taiwan. ” (Lynn T. White III, Professor Emeritus, Princeton University, USA)

“An intricately detailed, meticulously researched, and insightful account of United Front activities, their effectiveness and their opponents in the HKSAR in the Xi Jinping era.  Though the Hong Kong case is distinctive in many ways that are carefully analyzed, its general findings will also be of interest to scholars and policy practitioners dealing with United Front tactics and players in several countries with a significant overseas Chinese population.” (Paul Evans, Professor, School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia, Canada)

“This is an important and timely book that profiles in empirically rich detail the tactics, strategy and organizational reach of China’s united front effort to expand its influence in Hong Kong’s often fractious society.  Mapping China’s extensive networks of influence within the women’s, union and youth organizations as well as within media, business and ethnic and religious groups, this  path-breaking study highlights both the successes and the significant resistance to China’s penetrative strategies.  At a time when international anxieties over China’s global influence operations are mounting and concerns over the erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy intensifying, this book is a must-read for concerned observers.” (Victor C. Falkenheim, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, Canada)