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I am writing an MA dissertation on recent Hong Kong cinema (since around the start of the new wave). My interest is in the continuity of traditional Chinese ethics e.g. Confucian philosophy in the familial/ social order in Hong Kong, and their representation in popular cinema. Many scholars in the last two decades have concentrated on the issues of identity in relation to the reversion in 1997. They have either ignored discourses of a more personal/ social nature, or used cliches like ' Hong Kong is a cultural desert/ cut off from its cultural roots'. To these writers, the population and film makers were only able to reconnect with their Chinese cultural roots throught the necessity imposed by the approach of 1997. Using family melodrama, father and son subgenre and 'wenyi' films, I want to contradict this school of thoughts by rediscovering the traces of Chinese tradition in the construction of personal relationships in the city. I am of course aware of dramatic social and economic changes, particularly during the 1970s and 80s, and the resultant cultural expression's heterogenous nature. The writers (both Western and local) who fail to recognise the continuity often equate Chinese culture with the nation state of 'China'. They also pigeon hole the Hong Kong film industry, which is a phenomenon that began with the popularity of Bruce Lee and television series 'kung fu' in the 1970s. The use of throw away comments like 'complete breakdown of traditional social structure' and the emphasis on violence indicate a lack of critical insight of a culture which is constantly evolving but not disappearing. One of the aspects that I feel has particularly been neglected is the discourse of gender, especially in relation to the oppressive nature of traditional patriarchy. To create a genuine subjectivity in the study of Hong Kong's cultural heritage and its cinema representation, it is essential to reintegrate these overlooked issues. For the second half of my project, I will look at the ganster/ hero genre and again try to rediscover its cultural roots. Is anyone out there working on similar issues? I hope to generate a debate so please do comment on what I have said. Leung Wing-fai %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%