‘Sandakan 1’: Street view of Sandakan, Sabah. The pre-war capital of North Borneo was known as ‘Little Hong Kong’ for its long-established migration connection with Hong Kong.
Investigator: Doris Chan
This project explores the post-WWII migration of Chinese skilled labourers and professionals between three former British colonies: Hong Kong, Singapore, and North Borneo (today’s Sabah in East Malaysia). It begins with the immediate re-introduction of immigration restrictions due to the on-going Cold War ideological threats, decolonisation, and demand for labour and talent for post-WWII developments in East and Southeast Asia. Then, it looks into a much-restricted resumption of Chinese migration and how different groups—including, but not limited to, skilled labourers, Chinese teachers and students—travelled across borders. This project will shed light on the colonial connections between the three territories, and how these connections were contested under the Cold War, decolonisation, and the rise of international organisations. This study uses primary materials from government archives in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UK, as well as non-state materials, including company files and Chinese- and English-language newspapers circulated in Hong Kong, Singapore, and North Borneo. It seeks to engage with the academic discourses on colonial connections, decolonisation, and Chinese migration to explore Hong Kong’s connection with Southeast Asia.
‘Gaya Street’: Jalan Gaya (formerly Bond Street), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The post-war capital of North Borneo had attracted Chinese building trade businesses and skilled workers from Hong Kong for its urban development.