Consteller Publishing is proud to present Son of Hong Kong, Historian of China: The English Writings of Ming K. Chan, a monumental volume that brings together the most important English works by the late historian Professor Chan Ming-kau. Edited by Kent Wan, this collection sheds new light on lesser-known aspects of Hong Kong and Chinese history from the unique perspective of a native son of Hong Kong.
 
As a pioneering scholar, Ming K. Chan uncovered the critical yet often overlooked role played by the labor movements in Hong Kong and Canton in shaping the course of the Chinese revolution. His works highlight the complex dynamics between Hong Kong and mainland China, and underscore Hong Kong’s significance in modern Chinese history.
 
Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Ming K. Chan challenged conventional narratives and brought to the fore the experiences of marginalized groups, from workers to overseas Chinese communities. This volume encompasses his influential studies on the 1925-26 Canton-Hong Kong strike, the history of Chinese labor movement, and the connections between Hong Kong, Guangdong and the Chinese diaspora.
 
Son of Hong Kong is an essential read for anyone interested in Hong Kong history, modern China, and the global Chinese diaspora. It celebrates the intellectual legacy of Professor Chan while opening up new horizons in our understanding of these vital subjects.
 
| Content |
 
Abbreviations – i
Preface – iii
Introduction – vii
1. The Historiography of the Tzu-Chih t’ung-chien: A Survey – 01
2. Hong Kong in Sino-British Conflict: Mass Mobilization and the Crisis of Legitimacy, 1912-26 – 45
3. Hong Kong: Colonial Legacy, Transformation, and Challenge – 87
4. The Hong Kong-Guangdong Cantonese Economic Empire in Shanghai, 1842-1927 – 105
5. The Legacy of the British Administration of Hong Kong: A View from Hong Kong – 115
6. Different Roads to Home: The Retrocession of Hong Kong and Macau to Chinese Sovereignty – 137
7. Friends across the Pacific: Links between Canada and Hong Kong in Historical and Contemporary Perspectives – 175
8. The Luso-Macau Connections in Sun Yat-sen’s Modern Chinese Revolution – 197
Academic Works – 225
Afterword – 260
About the Editor – 263
 
 
| About the Author |
 
Ming K. Chan (1949-2018) was a prominent historian specializing in Hong Kong, Chinese labor movements, and the Chinese diaspora. Born in Hong Kong, he obtained his PhD from Stanford University at age 25. Chan taught at the University of Hong Kong in the 1980s-90s, training a generation of scholars. His dissertation focused on labor mobilizations in the Pearl River Delta from 1895-1927, highlighting Hong Kong workers’ role. Chan was a leading public intellectual who provided commentary on Hong Kong’s transition from British to Chinese rule. His later research expanded to Macau’s history and Hong Kong-China-diaspora connections.
 
| About the Editor |
 
Kent Wan is a researcher at the Research Center for the History of the Republic of China, Nanjing University. His research focuses on the history of the Republic of China.