International conference on Hong Kong Studies held at Cardiff University

Cardiff University’s School of Modern Languages hosted the Hong Kong Studies Association Conference on 13–14 June 2025.

The event was convened by Dr Elaine Chung and Ka Long Tung, Lecturer and Postgraduate Research Student at the School of Modern Languages, alongside Dr Terry Au-Yeung, Research Associate at the School of Social Sciences.

Support was provided by the Association’s co-convenors and secretaries - Dr Malte Kaeding (University of Surrey), Dr Sui Ting Kong (Durham University), Dr Wayne Wong (University of Sheffield), and Darill Liew (University of Surrey). Additional assistance came from Dr Qipeng Gao and Chen Yang, graduate tutors at the School of Modern Languages.

The conference centred on the theme ‘(Re)envisioning Hong Kong(s)’ and brought together more than 40 academics from around the world. The mix of speakers and attendees sparked vibrant conversations about the evolving meanings of ‘Hong Kong’ and ‘Hongkonger’ in shifting local and trans-local contexts. Presentations spanned a diverse range of topics, from diasporic literature and transnational migrant networks to political activism, colonial histories, cinema, and music.

A major highlight was the keynote address by Professor Meaghan Morris (University of Sydney), titled (Re)envisioning Realities in Practice: What Can ‘Studies’ Projects Do? Drawing on her research and teaching experiences in Hong Kong and Australia, Professor Morris offered a compelling reflection on the challenges and possibilities of conducting cultural and area studies within the rapidly shifting landscape of higher education.

Another key feature of the programme was the roundtable and workshop on Theory and Methods in Hong Kong Research, led by Professor Paul Morris (University College London), with contributions from Professor Ho-fung Hung (Johns Hopkins University), Dr Heather Inwood (University of Cambridge), Dr Yvette To (Hong Kong Polytechnic University), and Dr Eva Li (Lancaster University). This interactive session provided valuable insights into the methodological and theoretical challenges of researching Hong Kong amid rapid geopolitical shifts.

The conference also hosted a PhD paper competition which was supported by the Global Area Studies Research Theme (School of Modern Languages) and coordinated by PGR student Ka Long Tung, who reflected on the high quality of submissions and expressed gratitude to peer reviewers. The Best Paper Awards went to:

• Chun Hong Yan (University of Southampton): For the Sake of Youths? Examining Hong Kong Migrants' Family Migration Decision-making and Migratory Experiences in the UK through Socio-Materialities
• Marco Sbreglia (Sapienza University of Rome/University of Silesia Katowice): Flexible Citizenship and Fragmented Identity in Postcolonial Hong Kong

Beyond the academic panels, the conference featured a robust public engagement programme. This included a pre-conference book talk on Global Hong Kong: Post-2019 Migration and the New Hong Kong Diaspora (Routledge, 2025), where co-editor Dr Yvette To was joined by contributors Professor Michaela Benson (Lancaster University) and Professor Miu Chung Yan (University of British Columbia) to discuss recent waves of emigration and the complex identities emerging within the Hong Kong diaspora. The conference concluded with a public screening of Black Bauhinia, an award-winning documentary on Hong Kong localism, followed by a Q&A with director Dr Malte Kaeding. Both public-facing events were co-organised in collaboration with Nomad Reading Darllen Nomad CBC, a UK-based Hong Kong reading community group.

Reflecting on the event, Dr Elaine Chung said:

Co-organiser Dr Terry Au-Yeung echoed this sentiment: “The breadth of research presented reflected the field’s rich interdisciplinarity. The wide-ranging papers, employing diverse methodologies—from ethnography and mixed-method approaches to action research—offered insights and lessons that resonate far beyond Hong Kong’s geographic boundaries. This conference was a powerful testament to the intellectual vitality and global relevance of the Hong Kong Studies community.”