Ontological security amidst fateful moments: Adjusting Hong Kong’s place in Britain’s (post-)imperial biographical narrative

Abstract

This article examines Britain’s special relationship with Hong Kong from an ontological security perspective. By drawing on this case and revisiting key literature, it distinguishes between ‘critical situations’ and ‘fateful moments’ as different types of threats to state ontological security based on induced anxieties. In particular, it conceptualizes ‘fateful moments’ as ontological security threats that states can anticipate and adjust to before they transpire. Accordingly, two crucial events in Hong Kong’s history are examined as fateful moments: the 1997 Handover from Britain to China and the 2020 Hong Kong National Security Law. An analysis of British narratives reveals that Britain’s interpretation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration’s ‘one country, two systems’ concession functions as an ontological security seeking mechanism by constructing narrative continuity between Britain’s empire and post-empire identities. Furthermore, we argue that preemptive narrative adjustments ahead of each fateful moment enabled new policy preferences, as best illustrated by Britain’s stances toward ‘British National (Overseas)’ passport holders. In addition to advancing the ontological security studies agenda, this study contributes to ongoing debates over Britain’s post-Brexit identity.