Identity And Image Of Mainlanders In English Newspaper Of Hong Kong

Since Hong Kong’s reunification in1997, mainland and Hong Kong havewitnessed varied interaction in the field of economy, culture and social activities. Withthe geographic borders continue to shrink, residents of two places have intensifiedtheir interactive communication. Due to special historical and geographical factors,Hong Kong attracts a large number of mainlanders to travel, study, work and evenreside in. As the mirror of reality, Hong Kong media have been covering thesemainlanders in relationship with their own identity since1997.This thesis explores the image of mainlanders presented in one of Hong Kong’sEnglish newspapers in relationship with the changing of Hong Kong’s own identity bycontent analyzing its news coverage on mainlanders.In this thesis, Hong Kong’s identity will be discussed in three periods: Panic&Confused Period (1997-1998), Trying to Blend Period(1999-2008),Contradiction&Rejection Period (2008-2012). The thesis holds that changing of Hong Kong ’sown identity affects the dynamics of mainlander image: Panic&Confused Periodwitnessed illegal immigration, poor and hardworking mainlanders; Trying to BlendPeriod witnessed crazy shoppers in Hong Kong; then Contradiction&RejectionPeriod witnessed uncivilized image of mainlanders who tried to snatch Hong Kong’sresources.For Hong Kong people, their own identity is built on the comparison tomainlanders. This thesis finds that the image of mainlanders has a positive correlationto the changing of Hong Kong’s own identity...