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'{{EngvarB|date=February 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}} {{History of Hong Kong}} '''1980s in Hong Kong''' marks a period when the territory was known for its wealth and trademark lifestyle. Hong Kong would be recognised internationally for its politics, entertainment and skyrocketing real estate prices. ==Background== [[File:kowloon1989.jpg|thumb|left|300px|[[Kowloon]], [[Tsim Sha Tsui]], 1989]] After being made a crown colony since 1843, the status of Hong Kong was changed effectively under the ''[[British Nationality Act 1981]]'', which came into force on 1 January 1983. The Act renamed all existing British colonies to dependent territories. The renaming did not change how the government operated but it affected the nationality status of Hong Kong's then over 5 million inhabitants, most of whom were to become British Dependent Territory citizens – a status that could no longer be transmitted by descent. Regardless of the competing claims for sovereignty, China's [[paramount leader]] [[Deng Xiaoping]] recognised that Hong Kong, with its [[Market economy|free market economy]], could not be assimilated into the People's Republic overnight and that any attempt to do so would not be in the interests of either. He advocated a more pragmatic approach known as the [[one country, two systems]] policy, in which Hong Kong (as well as [[Macau]], and potentially also [[Republic of China|Taiwan]]) would be able to retain their economic systems within the PRC. On 19 December 1984, the [[Sino-British Joint Declaration|Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong]] (The Joint Declaration) was signed between the PRC and UK governments. Under this agreement, Hong Kong would cease to be a British Dependent Territory on 1 July 1997 and would thenceforth be a [[Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China|Special Administrative Region]] (SAR) of the PRC. Citizens opposed to the [[handover]] led to the first wave of emigration. ==Demographics== [[File:China1982-030.jpg|thumb|A view of Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, in 1982]] ===Population=== Hong Kong's population topped five million just at the beginning of the 1980s, and rose at an annual average rate of 1.3% over the next ten years. The additional 700,000 residents raised the population to 5.73 million at the end of the decade. The population of females rose 1.5% per annum, faster than that for males (1.4% p.a.), although females would remain a minority until 1996. The decade also saw the first signs of [[population ageing]], as the number of residents under the age of 25 fell by 1.2%. Households shrank in size from an average of 4.01 occupants in 1982 (the earliest available data) to 3.67 at decade's end. The 1980s were also characterised by the lowest population increase due to net migration (30.1%), as opposed to natural expansion.<ref name="censtatd.gov.hk">The data are all from http://www.censtatd.gov.hk</ref> ===Immigration and emigration=== From 1978 to September 1980, nearly 23,000 illegal immigrants from Mainland China entered Hong Kong. The government abolished the "touch-base" policy on 23 October 1980. After this date, any illegal immigrants captured would be sent back to their originating countries immediately. There were public outcries in the early 1980s over decreasing wages due to the large influx of mainland immigrants raising supply against demand.<ref>Fosh, Patricia, et al. (Eds) (2000). ''Hong Kong management and labour: Change and continuity''. London: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-22269-9}}.</ref> On the other hand, citizens of Hong Kong were beginning to immigrate to the UK, Canada and United States [[Waves of mass migrations from Hong Kong|in large numbers]] due to the uncertainty of the [[Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong|handover]] in 1997. From 1980 to 1986, an estimated 21,000 people left Hong Kong permanently every year. Beginning in 1987, the numbers rose sharply to 48,000 people a year.<ref>Manion, Melanie (2004). ''Corruption by Design: Building Clean Government in Mainland China and Hong Kong''. Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|0-674-01486-3}}</ref> ==Culture== [[File:Tuen Mun Town Hall in 1987.jpg|thumb|Tuen Mun Town Hall, a performing arts centre opened in 1987]] ===Education=== In the early 1980s, Hong Kong's education system could only accommodate 2% of the youth who wanted to seek higher education. It was not until 1989 that the government decided to expand the programs domestically. Prior to this, it was expected that higher education should be gained abroad.<ref>Lee, Wingon; Postiglione, Gerard A (1997). ''Schooling in Hong Kong: Organization, Teaching and Social Context''. Hong Kong University Press. {{ISBN|962-209-439-2}}</ref> Two special institutes opened to train young athletes and performers, respectively. The [[Hong Kong Sports Institute|Jubilee Sports Centre]] opened in 1982 while the [[Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts]] was founded in 1984 to educate students of the performing arts, music, and related technical professions. ===Entertainment=== The mid-'80s saw the popularising of the [[Walkman]]. It was one of the key factors in contributing to the rise of the [[cantopop]] culture. [[Leslie Cheung]], [[Anita Mui]] and [[Alan Tam]] were among the biggest pop stars. Other shows related to [[Super Sentai]] and [[The Transformers (TV series)|Transformers]] were translated and broadcast regularly. The franchising of toy stores such as [[Toys "R" Us]] flooded the malls of Hong Kong. Japanese import stores like [[Sogo]] in [[Causeway Bay]] also made [[Hello Kitty]] a cultural icon. The performing arts received a boost in the 1980s with the opening of numerous new [[Urban Council]] performance venues including the [[Tsuen Wan Town Hall]] (1980), [[Tuen Mun Town Hall]] (1987), [[Sha Tin Town Hall]] (1987), [[Hong Kong Cultural Centre]] (1989) and [[Sheung Wan Civic Centre]] (1989). ===Cinema=== Domestic movies in the late '80s would put [[Cinema of Hong Kong|Hong Kong cinema]] on the international map. [[Jackie Chan]] was recognised for his acrobatic displays and his [[Jackie Chan Stunt Team|stunt team]]. [[Chow Yun-fat]] was known for his TV drama performances. His collaboration with [[John Woo]] set the de facto standard for [[Triad society|triad]] films in [[A Better Tomorrow]]. ===Natural disasters=== In 1983, [[1983 Pacific typhoon season#Typhoon Ellen (Herming)|Typhoon Ellen]] came to Hong Kong and caused extensive damage, forcing the hoisting of [[Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals|Hurricane Signal]] No. 10. ==Politics== In response to China's [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989|Tiananmen Square protests]] on 27 May 1989, over 300,000 people gathered at [[Victoria Park, Hong Kong|Victoria Park]] for a gathering called "Democratic songs dedicated for China". Many famous Hong Kong and [[Taiwan]] artists performed and expressed their support for the students in Beijing. The massacre in Tiananmen Square on 4 June 1989 shocked the public. More than one million residents demonstrated to express their sorrow.<ref name="hk1990">{{cite book|title=Hong Kong 1990 - Report for the year 1989|date=1990|publisher=Government Printer|location=Hong Kong|isbn=9620200802}}</ref> ==Economy== [[File:YKK Building (Hong Kong).jpg|thumb|A flatted factory building in Tuen Mun, completed 1989]] [[File:Northpoint1989.jpg|thumb|right|[[North Point Estate]], 1989]] ===Manufacturing=== In the early 1980s, younger Hong Kong workers began avoiding the manufacturing industry entirely. Hong Kong's on-going evolution away from manufacturing picked up steam during the decade, as production's share of the economy fell from 22.8% in 1980 to 16.7% ten years later. Replacing it was a greater reliance on services, which rose from 68.3% to 75.4% of GDP. The fastest growing sectors were foreign trade, logistics and communications and general personal and community services.<ref name="censtatd.gov.hk"/> The lack of investment in domestic industry, along with China's [[Economic reform in the People's Republic of China|economic reform]], began opening up manufacturing to the mainland. Middle-aged men and women who had spent decades in manufacturing were suddenly left with no place to go.<ref>Salaff, Janet W. (1995). ''Working Daughters of Hong Kong: Filial Piety Or Power in the Family''. Columbia University. {{ISBN|0-231-10225-9}}</ref> ===Real estate=== In 1960, the [[University of Hong Kong]] and [[Hong Kong Polytechnic University|Hong Kong Technical College]] were one of the first schools to offer real estate education, but the curriculum was considered a sub program. In 1981, the [[University of Hong Kong]] became the first institution to be accredited by the [[RICS]]. It was the first step in connecting real estate education and the industry itself.<ref>Schulte, Karl-Werner (2001). ''Real estate education throughout the world: Past, present and future''. Springer Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7923-7553-X}}</ref> By 1983, 61% of capital investments belonged to the real estate sector. The amount of money entering the communities for infrastructure expenses in the 1980s eclipsed the sum of all real estate investments from 1940 to 1979.<ref>Renaud, Bertrand; Pretorius, F; Pasadilla, B. (1997). ''Markets at work: Dynamic of the residential real estate market in Hong Kong''. Hong Kong University. {{ISBN|962-209-438-4}}</ref> An up-to-date understanding of the industry along with the high-density population provided many with the opportunity to capitalise on realty sales. Areas like [[Lan Kwai Fong]] were improving at the time and became an "alternative" or "open" avenue to attract people who wanted things to be different.<ref name="Lio, Tai-Lok 2001">Lui Tai-Lok, "The malling of Hong Kong", in; Mathews, Gordon; Lü, Dale (2001). ''Consuming Hong Kong''. Hong Kong University Press. {{ISBN|962-209-546-1}}</ref> If construction was not open before, many areas found themselves redeveloping. ===Finance=== The lack of foreign-exchange control, and low tax, contributed to the competitiveness of Hong Kong's economy. Though a floating rate, coupled with panic about intensified political talk of the handover, sent consumer confidence to an all-time low, causing [[Black Saturday (1983)|Black Saturday]] in 1983. The end result was that Hong Kong adopted a [[linked exchange rate]] system. The exchange rate between the [[Hong Kong dollar]] and the [[:United States dollar]] was fixed at HKD $7.8 = US$1. The [[Hong Kong Monetary Authority]]'s exchange fund was responsible for keeping the market rate stable.<ref>Ngai, J. et al (2005). ''Economics and You 5''. Manhattan, Hong Kong, 2005.</ref> In the short period from just a decade previously, inflation would also increase from 5% in the 1970s to 12.7% by 1983.<ref>Jao Y.C. (1998). ''Money and finance in Hong Kong: retrospect and prospect''. Singapore University Press. {{ISBN|978-981-02-3481-2}}</ref> ===Transport=== The Modified Initial System, the first line of the [[Mass Transit Railway]] (MTR), was officially opened by [[Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy|Princess Alexandra]] in February 1980. Over the course of the 1980s the MTR expanded rapidly. An [[Tsuen Wan Line|extension to Tsuen Wan]] opened in 1982, while the more technically challenging [[Island Line (MTR)|Island Line]] opened in 1986. The new metro system was instantly successful at attracting heavy patronage. In addition, the much older [[Kowloon–Canton Railway]] (KCR) was fully modernised in the early 1980s. It was double-tracked and electrified. New stations were built to serve growing new towns and new housing estates, while many several older stations were closed. The KCR also opened a [[Light Rail (MTR)|new light rail network]] in 1988 to link the new towns of [[Yuen Long]] and [[Tuen Mun]]. ==See also== * {{portal-inline|Hong Kong}} ==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Hong Kong topics}} {{DEFAULTSORT:1980s In Hong Kong}} [[Category:British Hong Kong]] [[Category:1980s in Hong Kong| ]]'