#handover

A Cry for the Future of Hong Kong: Blackbird's The Return Of The Orphan, by Levon Kwok, Anarchist Studies, 33 no. 1, 2025.

This article examines Blackbird, a Hong Kong-based anarchist rock/indie band founded in 1979, as a key example of politically engaged cultural activism in a city often seen as apolitical. Emerging from leftist and countercultural movements influenced by the 1960s, Blackbird used music, publishing, theatre, and DIY practices to challenge colonialism, capitalism, and authoritarian power. Rejecting commercial record labels and government funding, the band pioneered Hong Kong’s independent music scene and became a foundational influence on later musicians. The author suggests the band had an explicitly anarchist identity and avoided commercialism.

Blackbird’s philosophy framed rock music as a tool for political communication and human emancipation, rather than entertainment or career advancement. The band prioritised direct engagement with audiences, free or donation-based distribution of music, and community performances, aiming to inspire individual autonomy and collective resistance. Its raw musical style reflected this commitment to ideas over technical polish.

The article’s core analysis focuses on Blackbird’s 1995 song “The Return of the Orphan”, which metaphorically interprets Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China. Using a father–child metaphor, the song portrays Hong Kong as an “orphan” abandoned by China, shaped by British colonialism, and forcibly “returned” without consent. The lyrics explore Hong Kong’s historical separation from China, China-Taiwan relations, the coercive nature of the handover, and Hong Kongers’ anxiety, powerlessness, and desire for freedom.

Through lyrical analysis and historical context, the article argues that the song anticipated Hong Kong’s post-handover political repression, including the erosion of freedoms under Chinese rule. Blackbird’s work is presented as a vital cultural record of “Hong Kong consciousness”, preserving grassroots perspectives excluded from official histories.

I’m handing over my hunter pass + 1 misha photo op for jib 12. If you could interact to help me reach more people it’d be great 🌸 the pass and photo op are both still available hit me up if you’re interested