We The Hongkongers

We The Hongkongers is a United States-based organization and cultural platform representing Hongkongers living in the United States. According to its official website, it describes itself as "Hongkongers living in the United States" and frames its mission around the idea that "Hong Kong matters." Its stated commitment is to strengthen the Hongkonger identity and to promote Hong Kong culture among communities in the U.S. The organization was established on 10 March 2020, according to the Chinese-language Wikipedia entry for 我們是香港人, and it appears in Wikidata as a U.S. Hongkonger organization. The organization's public-facing work spans community organizing, civic participation, and cultural programming. Its website highlights efforts such as strengthening the community of Hongkongers in the 2020 U.S. Census, encouraging participation in a national count that affects representation and resources for communities. It also solicits donations to support its activities. The name itself is a deliberate echo of the U.S. Constitution's opening phrase "We the People," a concept the organization explains on its About Us page: the preamble affirms the government's responsibility for the people, and the phrase is also associated with the White House petition platform, which the organization cites as an example of First Amendment-guaranteed civic voice. A flagship cultural initiative is the Made in Hong Kong Film Festival (MIHKFF). According to the festival's page on the organization's website, MIHKFF aims to provide an inclusive platform for filmmakers to showcase films made in Hong Kong regardless of topic or theme, including independent or commercial movies and topics deemed sensitive or prohibited in Hong Kong. The festival gives these films a space on the screen for the local community and seeks to shape identity and enhance understanding of Hong Kong through the lens of its cinema. The festival lists partners including movie partner Golden Scene Ltd., Co Twinkle Ngan Chi-Sing, Made Good Films, and local organizers Lion Rock Cafe, US Hongkongers Club, and Arizona For Hong Kong (AZ4HKK). The organization's About Us page situates its work in a broader historical and linguistic context. It notes that in 2014 Oxford University Press added "Hongkonger" and "Hong Kongese" to its English Dictionary, referring to "a native or inhabitant of Hong Kong," and that use of the word "Hongkonger" can be traced back to 1870, when the Daily Independent in California used it to describe citizens living in the then-British colony. It observes that despite the 1997 handover, Hong Kong has developed and sustained a unique culture and social significance on the global stage, strengthening the Hongkonger identity. It also states that in Hong Kong's current sociopolitical movement, the organization recognized the importance of coordination between locals and overseas Hongkongers, and that in the U.S., the passage of congressional acts has shown support from the global community for Hongkongers' fundamental human rights. As a brand-like entity, We The Hongkongers functions as a community and cultural platform rather than a conventional commercial company. Its offerings are programs, events, and advocacy rather than products for sale: community strengthening, census participation, cultural promotion, and the Made in Hong Kong Film Festival. It operates primarily in the United States and communicates in English, with a Chinese name, 我們是香港人, used in Chinese-language references. Its website serves as its main public interface, providing information about its mission, the film festival, and ways to support its work.

We The Hongkongers was established on 10 March 2020, according to the Chinese-language Wikipedia entry for 我們是香港人. It appears in Wikidata as a U.S. Hongkonger organization. The organization emerged in a period when Hongkonger identity and overseas Hongkonger coordination were salient topics, and its About Us page situates its formation in that context: it notes that in Hong Kong's current sociopolitical movement, the organization recognized the importance of coordination between locals and overseas Hongkongers, and that in the U.S., the passage of congressional acts showed support from the global community for Hongkongers' fundamental human rights. The organization's name and framing draw on American civic tradition. Its About Us page explains that the Preamble of the United States Constitution begins with "We the People," affirming the government's responsibility for the people and setting out the scope of the nation's supreme law; that the Constitution was signed to be in force by the framers in 1789 to ensure separation of powers among three government branches and protect fundamental rights; and that the phrase is also known as the name of the White House petition platform, a right guaranteed by the First Amendment, which empowers the American public to demand change from the government. The organization's About Us page also provides a linguistic and historical background for the term "Hongkonger." It states that in 2014 Oxford University Press added "Hongkonger" and "Hong Kongese" to their English Dictionary, referring to "a native or inhabitant of Hong Kong," and that use of the word "Hongkonger" can be traced back to 1870 when the Daily Independent in California used the word to describe the citizens living in the then-British colony. It further observes that despite the handover in 1997, Hong Kong has developed and continued to sustain its unique culture and social significance on the global stage, which strengthened the Hongkonger identity. In its early public activity, the organization focused on community strengthening and civic participation. Its website highlights strengthening the community of Hongkongers in the 2020 U.S. Census, a national count with implications for representation and resources. It also solicits donations to support its work. A major cultural initiative is the Made in Hong Kong Film Festival (MIHKFF). According to the festival's page on the organization's website, MIHKFF aims to provide an inclusive platform for filmmakers to showcase films made in Hong Kong regardless of topics and themes, whether independent or commercial, including topics deemed sensitive or prohibited in Hong Kong. The festival gives these films a space on the screen for the local community to appreciate their dedicating work, and through the lens of Hong Kong, hopes to shape identity and enhance understanding of Hong Kong, keeping the legend of Hong Kong's films rolling. The festival lists partners including movie partner Golden Scene Ltd., Co Twinkle Ngan Chi-Sing, Made Good Films, and local organizers Lion Rock Cafe, US Hongkongers Club, and Arizona For Hong Kong (AZ4HKK). It invites interested parties to email mihkfilm@gmail.com for partnership or sponsorship details and provides Facebook and Instagram follow links. The organization operates primarily in the United States and communicates in English, with a Chinese name, 我們是香港人, used in Chinese-language references. Its website serves as its main public interface.

• 2020

  We The Hongkongers is established on 10 March 2020, according to the Chinese-language Wikipedia entry.

• 2020

  The organization highlights strengthening the community of Hongkongers in the 2020 U.S. Census.

A U.S.-based Hongkonger community and cultural platform focused on strengthening Hongkonger identity and promoting Hong Kong culture.

• Made in Hong Kong Film Festival (MIHKFF)

  An inclusive platform for filmmakers to showcase films made in Hong Kong regardless of topics and themes, including independent or commercial movies and topics deemed sensitive or prohibited in Hong Kong.

• 2020 U.S. Census community outreach

  Efforts to strengthen the community of Hongkongers in the 2020 U.S. Census.

1. 1We The Hongkongers | Hongkonger matters in the United Stateswethehongkongers.org
2. 2About Us | We The Hongkongerswethehongkongers.org
3. 3About MIHKFF | Made In Hong Kong Film Festival | We The Hongkongerswethehongkongers.org
4. 4We The Hongkongerswikidata.org
5. 5我們是香港人zh.wikipedia.org