Guarding the Space In-between

Based on eight in-depth interviews, this article analyses the quandary faced by liberal mainland Chinese student migrants in Hong Kong. On one hand, pro-democracy movements Kong are deeply intertwined with rise of localism, which is based a dichotomy between and China. other rising, development-centric nationalism China reduces protesters to unemancipated British colonial subjects. However, context “double marginalisation,” Mainland students guard form liberalism that transcends both localism nationalism. They debunk stereotype being apolitical therefore provide an alternative definition Chinese. challenge view can only be emancipated outside destabilise Fukuyamian linear interpretation history. use four tactics cope double marginalisation: understanding localists, befriending expatriates, assuming professionalism, becoming apolitical.
 Image © Ling Tang