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A talk by Dr. Law Wing Sang

On 24 January 2026, it’ll be 185 years since Britain’s initial occupation of Hong Kong.

The history and legacy of this period is complex. British colonial rule is often regarded as violent, exploitative, and destructive, but, for Hong Kong, the experience and memory of colonial occupation – both lived and inherited – differs when considered in relation to what followed.

Following the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the population experienced a rolling back of rights and freedoms they had under British rule. As a result, there are many Hongkongers today who express nostalgia for aspects of the British colonial era.

This perspective deviates from a dominant narrative of resistance to colonial rule that is central to much decolonial practice. Hongkongers’ nostalgia can often be misunderstood and met with surprise, confusion and at times, tension.

Dr. Law Wing Sang, a leading cultural studies scholar from Hong Kong, will unpack these histories and perspectives by addressing:

• A brief history of Hong Kong before, during, and after colonial rule.

• How colonial power operated in Hong Kong.

• Why many Hongkongers look back on the colonial legacy with fondness, even nostalgia

About the speaker

Dr. LAW Wing-sang, (Retired) Associate Professor of Department of Cultural Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Author of the book Collaborative Colonial Power: The Making of the Hong Kong Chinese. HK: HKU Press. In partnership with Readfirst Bookshop.

About Decolonise!

This event is part of Manchester Museum’s Decolonise! trail series. The Decolonise! trail is an intervention in Manchester Museum that invites visitors to reflect on the Museum’s past, present and future. Decolonising at Manchester Museum is a process that includes offering a transparent and more nuanced history of The British Empire and of the collections the Museum cares for.