New Books in Political Science Christine Loh, "Underground Front: The Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong" (Hong Kong UP, 2018)
Mar 1, 2026
Christine Loh, former Hong Kong legislator and founder of Civic Exchange, and author of Underground Front, walks through the CCP’s long game in Hong Kong. She traces early 1920s communist activity, Hong Kong’s role as a strategic base, united front tactics and the liaison office’s rising profile. The conversation highlights historical roots, election influence and generational divides.
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Personal Roots That Shaped Her Research
- Christine Loh traced her personal background from Shanghainese and Cantonese family roots to early work in Beijing in 1980.
- Her family history and early immersion in China shaped curiosity about Marxism, the CCP, and Hong Kong's place in modern Chinese history.
Legislative Question That Broke The Taboo
- Christine Loh asked in the Legislative Council before 1997 how the Chinese Communist Party would operate in Hong Kong after the handover.
- Legislators and the public reacted with fear and avoidance, showing the taboo around discussing the CCP's local role in the colonial period.
Hong Kong As CCP's Early Operational Hub
- Hong Kong served as a crucial fundraising, liaison, and safe meeting point for the CCP during the 1920s–1940s.
- The Party used commercial fronts like tea companies and the Xinhua office to mobilize overseas Chinese, secure funds, and coordinate activities across the border.
