published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

This paper examines the process of converging and industrializing food habits in Hong Kong. It does this by examining changes in the food system as a whole, placing consumption patterns in the context of the local food system and local social formation. In turn, local dynamics are placed in a global context. It is within the global context that the geographical homogenization of available foodstuffs is occurring. It is, however, in local place where the processes and trends are manifested. The paper begins with a discussion of the research issues and questions that surround the studies of consumption, food habits and Hong Kong. There is then a section which deals with the nature of food as an industrial commodity and the nature of the world industrial food system. The logic behind the geographical homogenization is drawn out of this discussion. The paper then turns to the geographical setting of the Hong Kong case; first describing the nature of the local social formation then moving on to consider changes in the local food system in the post Second World War period. Changes in the import/export profile, the local food production economy and the local circulatory sphere are outlined. These areas exhibit a tendency to capital intensification and internationalization. Finally changes in the actual consumption patterns of the people of Hong Kong are addressed. The conclusion of the analysis is that the Hong Kong social formation and the Hong Kong food system are undergoing a radical transformation: one where globally articulated capitalist 'patterns of regulation' are coming to shape the nature of agency in regards to food consumption in the local place that is Hong Kong. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Economics / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Tang, Lai La. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-123). / Abstracts in English and Chinese ; appendix also in Chinese. / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Introduction --- p.1 / Statement of Problem --- p.1 / Definition of Mihn Baau --- p.2 / Scope of Study --- p.3 / Literature Review --- p.6 / The Anthropology of Food --- p.6 / The Globalization of Foodways --- p.6 / The Localization of Food --- p.7 / Consumption --- p.9 / Class Distinction --- p.10 / Significance --- p.15 / Methodology --- p.16 / In-depth Interview --- p.17 / In-depth Interview with Consumers --- p.17 / In-depth Interview with Bakeries --- p.19 / In-depth Interview with Bakers --- p.19 / Observation --- p.20 / Structure of Thesis --- p.21 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- The Development of Mihn Baau in Hong Kong --- p.23 / Post Second World War: The Subsistence Consumption --- p.24 / The 1950s and The 1960s: The Emergence of Enriched Type --- p.25 / The 1970s: The Emergence of Substantial Type --- p.36 / The 1980s: The Emergence of Re-created Japanese Style --- p.39 / The 1990s onwards: The Diversified Development --- p.43 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- The Current Types of Mihn Baau --- p.52 / The Growing Diversification of Mihn Baau with Specialized Taste --- p.52 / Types of Bakery --- p.60 / Neighborhood Bakery --- p.60 / Bakery Chain --- p.61 / Specialty Bakery --- p.63 / Bakery H: The Neighborhood Bakery --- p.66 / Types of Mihn Baau --- p.69 / Bakery P: The Japanese Bakery Chain --- p.70 / Types of Mihn Baau --- p.75 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- The Consumption of Mihn Baau --- p.80 / The Different Consumption Patterns Observed in the Two Bakeries --- p.80 / Bakery H: The Prevalence of Necessity Consumption --- p.80 / Bakery P: The Reflection of Conspicuous Consumption --- p.82 / The Consumption Patterns from the Consumers' Perspective --- p.86 / Situational Context of Mihn Baau Consumption --- p.89 / The Preferences for Mihn Baau --- p.91 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Conclusion --- p.103 / References --- p.111 / Appendix 1: Profile of Informants from the Consumer Group --- p.124 / Appendix 2: Questionnaire for Consumers --- p.125 / Appendix 3: Interview Questions for Consumers --- p.128 / Appendix 4: Solicitation Letter for Bakeries --- p.129 / Appendix 5: Interview Questions for Bakeries --- p.131 / Appendix 6: Interview Questions for Bakers --- p.132 / Appendix 7: Types of Mihn Baau in Bakery N --- p.133 / Appendix 8: Types of Mihn Baau in Bakery H --- p.135 / Appendix 9: Types of Mihn Baau in Bakery P --- p.136