Abstract | Overbearing, under-cultured and over here - this is how many traditionalist view that peculiar phenomenon, the American-born Chinese. But the author finds some plaudits for the Western Oriental. America-born Chinese (ABCs) in Hong Kong are a breed who stand out like a gweilo in a mahjong hall and, even where they escape visual notice, they can always be heard. As the territory veers towards the mainland and a white face sometimes no longer fits, these gum-chewing, diet-coke sipping, pretzel-eating, cool-thinking ethnic Chinese have been making their way in mall-size numbers, looking for better career opportunities and hoping to find fame and fortune. |
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