The Transformation of Urban Movements in Hong Kong, 1970-90

This article traces the transformation of urban movements in Hong Kong in the last two decades and examines the role played by the new middle class in such transformations. It is argued that as the first generation of the new middle class matured and was recruited into human-services professions and the government, the HK urban movement escalate from student movement to community movement and then to the recent democracy movement. This article also maintains that it is through participating in urban movements that the new middle class of Hong Kong acquired consciousness, formed a class, and struggled for its own interests instead of struggling for the interests of other classes.