Continental influence beyond the British presence in the city’s institutional history
Mark O’Neill is a British journalist and author whose work focuses on Asian affairs, with particular emphasis on Hong Kong’s European communities beyond British influence.
His latest book examines contributions made by Europeans from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, including their roles in establishing key institutions such as schools, hospitals, and trading companies. O’Neill’s new book, Europeans in Hong Kong, will be published by Earnshaw Books on March 25, 2025. For readers interested in learning more, our earlier interview with O’Neill about his previous book, A Tale of Two Continents, is available.
Featured image: Sisters of St Paul’s with Chinese girls they had adopted
Your book focuses on Europeans from continental Europe rather than the British or Irish. What led you to this specific focus?
I have written a book on the Irish of Hong Kong, not published yet. There are many books on the British. But I could not find one that covered those from continental Europe. Their contribution to HK has been enormous.
How did you select which European nationalities and individuals to include in the book? Were there any difficult omissions?
I picked those who have made the biggest contributions, especially the religious, the teachers, the writers, the major business figures and those whose legacy lives on today.
Europeans have played a significant role in shaping Hong Kong’s educational, medical, and religious institutions. Which contributions do you think have been the most lasting?
Most lasting contribution has been the schools, universities, hospitals, old people’s homes, welfare institutions and some companies. While these are largely run now by HK people, they were founded and nurtured by Europeans. Most striking is the one we show on the book cover. In the 19th century, French nuns adopted tens of thousands of young Chinese girls who had been abandoned and gave them a good life. Without them, the girls would have died or worked as child labourers, domestic servants or prostitutes.
How did German businesses establish such a strong presence in Hong Kong before World War I, and what were the main consequences of the war for them?
After unification and victory over France in 1870/71, Germany’s industrial and economic power increased rapidly. It came to rival Britain and the U.S. as the world’s top industrial country. It was natural, therefore, that its companies would expand overseas. HK was the main trading and commercial centre in East Asia. The British colonial government and British people here liked Germans and vice versa. The two World Wars were a disaster for German firms and people here. Their firms were confiscated and the people were interned or expelled.
French influence in Hong Kong seems to be particularly strong today, with a significant population and business presence. What factors contributed to this growth?
France was not as powerful economically as Germany. But it sent many priests and nuns here, and to the mainland. Since 1945, France’s economy has developed well, so there are many French companies here. Also France is very strong in language, films, music, fashion and cuisine – all well represented in HK now. Another factor is that the state in France is strong and business highly regulated, with many taxes. Some young French people who want to start their own business find the business environment here much easier.
Were there any unexpected or little-known stories you discovered that significantly changed your perspective on Hong Kong’s European community?
The story of Jesuit priest Lazlo Ladany – the world’s top China-watcher from 1950 to 1980.
How did the experiences of European women in Hong Kong differ from those of their male counterparts, particularly in the early years?
In the early years, HK was a conservative, colonial society. Space for foreign women was limited. They had less freedom and opportunity than their male counterparts. Only the toughest could go into business or set up their own company. The best options were teaching or religious and voluntary work. In this respect, the nuns were better off. They belonged to a well established institution that gave them career choices.
After the Communist victory in China in 1949, many Europeans moved from the mainland to Hong Kong. How did this migration impact the city?
The Communist victory proved to be a great opportunity for Hong Kong. Tens of thousands of Chinese fled the mainland, as did many foreigners, who rebuilt here what they had built in the mainland. So Hong Kong had a great influx of talent and capital.
The handover of Hong Kong in 1997 was a turning point. How did the European business and cultural community respond to this transition?
Some Europeans chose not to live in post-1997. I think the number was limited, unless their job and livelihood were directly affected. The biggest impact was on British people in the government, such as civil servants and the police. After 1997, their status, privilege and job prospects were threatened.
Today, Hong Kong has over 50,000 European residents. How has their demographic and occupational profile changed in recent decades?
I cannot find figures for the number of Europeans in HK as of 2024. According to figures from the HK government, as of June 1 2023, EU firms had 321 regional headquarters in HK, 476 regional offices and 751 local offices. Using anecdotal evidence, I would say that long-term European residents have stayed, as well as those in business, accounting, law, medicine and other professions not affected by the National Security Law. Those more affected by the NSL are journalists, professors in humanities and liberal arts, NGOs and publishers. But I have no statistics to support this.
Photos courtesy of Mark o’Neil
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