Russians in Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Russians in Hong Kong form one of the territory
's smaller groups of expatriates and a minor portion of the worldwide Russian diaspora
.
in the pre-World War II
period were looked down upon by the British; their lifestyles, employment, and poverty were seen to "undermine 'white privilege'", and other Europeans tried to avoid any interaction with them. Nevertheless, some were also hired on to Royal Hong Kong Police Force, though they were paid less than other Europeans; at one point, Russians composed 12-15% of all Europeans in the Hong Kong police. In the 1950s, the People's Republic of China
threatened to deport all the White Russians from its territory to Hong Kong
; in the end, they relented, and only deported those who had been able to secure a final destination outside of Hong Kong. A site for a refugee camp had been picked out for them at Chi Ma Wan
on Lantau Island
, but it was never built.
The Russian Club in Hong Kong was formally established in 1999 out of informal gatherings which began as early as 1993; it celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009 with a grand ball, which attracted roughly 150 participants. The Russian consul-general in Hong Kong estimated in 2007 that just 600 Russian citizens lived in Hong Kong.
, an 1897 war novel, imagined a naval invasion of Hong Kong by the Russians and the French.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's smaller groups of expatriates and a minor portion of the worldwide Russian diaspora
Russian diaspora
The term Russian diaspora refers to the global community of ethnic Russians, usually more specifically those who maintain some kind of connection, even if ephemeral, to the land of their ancestors and maintain their feeling of Russian national identity within a local community.The term "Russian...
.
History
White RussiansWhite Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
in the pre-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
period were looked down upon by the British; their lifestyles, employment, and poverty were seen to "undermine 'white privilege'", and other Europeans tried to avoid any interaction with them. Nevertheless, some were also hired on to Royal Hong Kong Police Force, though they were paid less than other Europeans; at one point, Russians composed 12-15% of all Europeans in the Hong Kong police. In the 1950s, the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
threatened to deport all the White Russians from its territory to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
; in the end, they relented, and only deported those who had been able to secure a final destination outside of Hong Kong. A site for a refugee camp had been picked out for them at Chi Ma Wan
Chi Ma Wan
Chi Ma Wan is a bay on southeastern Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong. Chi Ma Wan Peninsula is where Chi Ma Wan, as well as Cheung Sha Wan, Tai Long Wan, Yi Long Wan and Mong Tung Wan are located...
on Lantau Island
Lantau Island
Lantau Island , based on the old local name of Lantau Peak , is the largest island in Hong Kong, located at the mouth of the Pearl River. Administratively, most of Lantau Island is part of the Islands District of Hong Kong...
, but it was never built.
The Russian Club in Hong Kong was formally established in 1999 out of informal gatherings which began as early as 1993; it celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009 with a grand ball, which attracted roughly 150 participants. The Russian consul-general in Hong Kong estimated in 2007 that just 600 Russian citizens lived in Hong Kong.
In popular culture
Russians in Hong Kong have also been the subject of works of fiction; The Back DoorThe Back Door (fiction)
The Back Door was an anonymous work of invasion literature serialised in Hong Kong newspaper The China Mail from 30 September through 8 October 1897...
, an 1897 war novel, imagined a naval invasion of Hong Kong by the Russians and the French.