\uff08Event to be conducted in Japanese and Cantonese (Presenters would be presenting in Cantonese with support of Japanese interpreter\uff09<\/em><\/p>\n The year 2019 marked a definitive watershed moment in the contemporary history of Hong Kong. The widespread social movements and the subsequent structural political shifts triggered an unprecedented wave of out-migration, profoundly altering the demographic and cultural landscape of the region. Among the most prominent and immediate destinations for those seeking refuge and a new beginning was the island of Taiwan. Geographically proximate and sharing a complex, intertwined historical relationship with mainland China, Taiwan presented itself as a natural sanctuary for Hongkongers fleeing political upheaval. This symposium, titled “Everyday Politics of the Unfamiliar Neighbour: Navigating Daily Life and Political Identity for Hong Kong Diaspora in Taiwan,” seeks to critically examine this significant demographic shift. It moves beyond surface-level narratives and media headlines to explore the intricate, often hidden realities of displacement, resettlement, and ongoing identity negotiation.<\/p>\n A prevailing myth has frequently framed this cross-strait relocation as a seamless, almost natural transition. External observers, and indeed many migrants themselves prior to their departure, often assumed that a shared written Chinese language and a common geopolitical stance against encroaching authoritarianism would automatically foster immediate, uncomplicated solidarity between Hongkongers and the Taiwanese public. However, the lived reality over the past several years has proven to be far more demanding and complex. This event aims to deconstruct the assumption of effortless integration, highlighting the unexpected tensions, cultural frictions, and practical administrative difficulties that have characterised the diasporic process. The guiding concept of the “unfamiliar neighbour” encapsulates this profound paradox: two populations that appear culturally and politically aligned from a distance, yet discover profound differences in civic habits, social expectations, linguistic nuances, and daily rhythms upon closer, sustained contact.<\/p>\n Crucially, the post-2019 migration of Hongkongers to Taiwan serves as a highly unique and compelling paradigm within the broader academic field of Chinese diasporic studies. Unlike historical waves of Chinese migration, which were driven primarily by economic opportunity, familial reunification, or escaping poverty, this recent exodus is fundamentally propelled by political ideology and the urgent pursuit of democratic freedoms. This distinct, ideologically driven motivational factor deeply colours every aspect of the diasporic experience. Furthermore, the symposium approaches this migration journey fundamentally through the methodological lens of daily life history<\/em>. Rather than focusing solely on macro-level immigration policy or high-level political discourse, the event investigates how migrants, uprooted by intense ideological convictions, reveal and negotiate their political thoughts across the mundane, routine dimensions of their everyday lives.<\/p>\n For these migrants, political ideology is not merely a theoretical stance or a ballot cast; it is a lived, daily practice that permeates their existence. The transition from an active, high-stakes protest environment in Hong Kong to a settled, yet politically sensitive, life in Taiwan requires a continuous and often exhausting calibration of identity. How does one maintain political agency while simultaneously navigating the mundane hurdles of securing residency, finding employment, or renting an apartment? How do deeply held ideological commitments shape the formation of new social circles, the patronisation of local businesses, or the consumption of media? We explore how grand political narratives are internalised and subsequently expressed through daily habits, community interactions, and personal struggles in a new host society.<\/p>\n The event will navigate the multifaceted nature of this lived, everyday migration through four key scholarly and practical focal points, culminating in a synthesis roundtable:<\/p>\n Through these focused presentations and a concluding interactive roundtable, “Everyday Politics of the Unfamiliar Neighbour” aspires to foster a deeper, significantly more nuanced, and realistic understanding of the Hong Kong diaspora in Taiwan. By deliberately grounding grand political ideologies in the concrete, tangible realities of daily life history, the symposium will contribute valuable, original insights to the intersections of diasporic studies, sociology, and political science. Ultimately, the event offers a vital platform to acknowledge the profound resilience required to rebuild a life from scratch, examining how migrants turn the persistent unfamiliarity of a neighbouring land into a dynamic space of sustained political identity, mutual understanding, and renewed community.<\/p>\n 15:00 \u2013 15:30 Sharing section of YING Fuk Tsang on Hong Kong Christians in Taiwan Hybrid Graduate students, Faculty members, Research members, General Participants<\/p>\n Japanese and Cantonese<\/p>\n Waseda Institute for Advanced Studies (WIAS)<\/p>\n HUNG Tak Wai<\/a> (Assistant Professor, WIAS)<\/p>\n\n
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\n15:30 \u2013 16:00 Sharing section of FUNG Bak Kui (Muk Yu) on Literary Representation of Hong Kong Literature, Writers, and Artists in Taiwan
\n16:00 \u2013 16:30 Sharing section of WU Gin on Hong Kong Diasporic Media in Taiwan
\n16:30 \u2013 17:00 Sharing section of LEE Judy on Ideological Model of Hong Kong Political Active Migrants in Taiwan
\n17:15 \u2013 18:00 Coffee Break
\n17:15 \u2013 18:00 Roundtable Section Host by HUNG Tak Wai<\/p>\nSpeakers<\/h5>\n
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\nOnsite Venue: Room 711, 7th floor, Building 19, Waseda Campus<\/p>\nProspected Audience<\/h5>\n
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