Two Nationalisms, One City: Official and Diasporic Framings of the 2019 Hong Kong Protests

ABSTRACT This study analyses the contested collective memories of the 2019 Anti‐Extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti‐ELAB) movement, investigating how the Hong Kong government and diaspora construct divergent narratives to shape national identity and nationalism. Employing a mixed‐methods approach that combines corpus linguistic techniques and qualitative discourse analysis, this research identifies the government's use of language to reinforce state‐centric Chinese nationalism and delegitimize dissent, portraying the movement as a critical security threat. Conversely, diasporic narratives, often articulated on digital platforms, emphasize democratic values, resistance and solidarity, fostering an alternative Hong Kong nationalism rooted in local identity and transnational connections. These competing discourses demonstrate collective memory's dual function as both an instrument of state power and a potent resource for resistance. By situating these narratives within broader discussions of nationalism and identity, the study illuminates the interplay between authoritarian control and grassroots resistance, deepening understanding of nationalism in contested political spaces.