The book shows how the study of the evolving discourse employed during a political process spanning more than a decade can provide insights for critical discourse analysis, on the one hand, and understanding of a real world political process on the other, thereby demonstrating the potential role for critical discourse analysis in historiography.

JOHN FLOWERDEW is a Professor in the Department of English, City University of Hong Kong, China, where he has worked since 1989. His main research and teaching interest is discourse analysis in its many varieties and manifestations.

Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Background on Hong Kong and Theoretical Framework PART I: THE DISCOURSE OF THE OUTGOING ADMINISTRATION The Discourse of Colonial Withdrawal Rhetorical Strategies and Identity Politics in the Discourse Of Colonial Withdrawal Discourse and Social Change in a Public Meeting PART II: INTERCULTURAL DISCOURSES IN TRANSITIONAL HONG KONG Face in Intercultural Political Discourse Competing Public Discourses in Transitional Hong Kong Metaphors in The Discursive Construction of Patriotism PART III: THE DISCURSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HONG KONG IDENTITY Identity Politics and Hong Kong's Return to Chinese Sovereignty Discourse as History: History as Discourse: 'The Rise of Modern China' A History Exhibition in Post-Colonial Hong Kong Discriminatory Discourse Directed Towards Mainlanders Globalisation Discourse: Continuity with The Old The Discursive Construction of a World-Class City Conclusion References Index.