The governance of daily life — whether through urban planning, sports, or education — is deeply entwined with politics. In East Asia, political structures have shaped how individuals and communities navigate their everyday lives, often fostering complex negotiations between state control and local agency. This panel examines the interplay between governance and daily practices, uncovering how people respond to and reshape political influences in their lived environments. Our panel consists of four presentations covering urban planning, sport management, and education in different East Asia colonial frameworks.

Presenter 1 analyses the development of Sha Tin New Town in colonial Hong Kong, highlighting how planning politics shifted its urbanisation from socio-economic goals to colonial strategic objectives, reflecting tensions between state-driven and localised planning. Presenter 2 explores how sports policies in colonial Hong Kong were used as tools for urban governance and identity formation, illustrating their role in maintaining social stability and projecting political narratives. Presenter 3 examines Munsang College, where education for Chinese identity was detached from nationalistic affiliations, showing how Chinese communities in British Hong Kong cultivated ethnic and cultural identities within a colonial framework. Presenter 4 investigates the role of Chinese independent schools in Malaysia, addressing contemporary debates on whether they foster parallel nationalism among Malaysian Chinese youth, complicating notions of decolonisation and national identity.

By analysing diverse facets of governance, this panel sheds light on how East Asian communities negotiate political influences in daily life, revealing the resilience and adaptability of individuals in shaping their socio-political landscapes.

Authors:
Chan Ka Lok, The City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Tak Wai Hung, Waseda University, Japan
Lam Ho Yin, Gratia Christian College, Hong Kong
Lau Waigin, Waseda University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Hung Tak Wai is a Hong Kong historian who specialises on globalisation, religion, politics, and minority in East Asia, currently serving as an assistant professor at Waseda University and working on religious minority in East Asia.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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