Discursive Sovereignty: How China Constructs Hong Kong as an “Internal Affair”

Wong, KH

Discursive Sovereignty: How China Constructs Hong Kong as an “Internal Affair”

Wong, KH

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Publisher:: Institut Agama Islam Negeri Salatiga
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Pragmatics Research, 8, (1), pp. 116-137
Issue Date:: 2025-12-19

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Wong, KH
dc.date.accessioned	2025-12-21T02:23:02Z
dc.date.available	2025-12-21T02:23:02Z
dc.date.issued	2025-12-19
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Pragmatics Research, 8, (1), pp. 116-137
dc.identifier.issn	2656-8020
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/191045
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>This study examines the discursive construction of sovereignty in Hong Kong through a critical discourse analysis of political speeches, legal documents, and press releases spanning from the 1984 Sino-British negotiations to the post-2020 National Security Law era. The research aims to investigate how the totalitarian party-state in China legitimizes its authority over Hong Kong while simultaneously ignoring forms of British nationality held by Hongkongers, and how democratic states, particularly the United Kingdom, respond through visa and asylum pathways. Using a qualitative methodology grounded in Critical Discourse Analysis, the study traces the historical and ideological roots of the narrative of “internal affairs” as constructed through key state discourses and examines how these discourses intersect with concepts of self-determination, civic participation, and legal frameworks. The findings reveal that China employs a combination of hegemonic persuasion and institutional control to frame Hongkongers’ political aspirations as illegitimate, while international responses reflect broader tensions between democratic protection and authoritarian compliance. The research highlights the ongoing contestation of norms surrounding sovereignty, rights, and freedom, illustrating how Hong Kong has become a frontline in the global struggle between democratic and authoritarian discourses. The study concludes that understanding these dynamics provides insight into the mechanisms through which states assert power, control narratives, and shape transnational perceptions of legitimacy, with implications for both international relations and civic activism.</jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Institut Agama Islam Negeri Salatiga
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Pragmatics Research
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.18326/jopr.v8i1.116-137
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Discursive Sovereignty: How China Constructs Hong Kong as an “Internal Affair”
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	8
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/School of Communication
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/Science Related HDR Students
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-12-21T02:23:01Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	8
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

This study examines the discursive construction of sovereignty in Hong Kong through a critical discourse analysis of political speeches, legal documents, and press releases spanning from the 1984 Sino-British negotiations to the post-2020 National Security Law era. The research aims to investigate how the totalitarian party-state in China legitimizes its authority over Hong Kong while simultaneously ignoring forms of British nationality held by Hongkongers, and how democratic states, particularly the United Kingdom, respond through visa and asylum pathways. Using a qualitative methodology grounded in Critical Discourse Analysis, the study traces the historical and ideological roots of the narrative of “internal affairs” as constructed through key state discourses and examines how these discourses intersect with concepts of self-determination, civic participation, and legal frameworks. The findings reveal that China employs a combination of hegemonic persuasion and institutional control to frame Hongkongers’ political aspirations as illegitimate, while international responses reflect broader tensions between democratic protection and authoritarian compliance. The research highlights the ongoing contestation of norms surrounding sovereignty, rights, and freedom, illustrating how Hong Kong has become a frontline in the global struggle between democratic and authoritarian discourses. The study concludes that understanding these dynamics provides insight into the mechanisms through which states assert power, control narratives, and shape transnational perceptions of legitimacy, with implications for both international relations and civic activism.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/191045