Toilet as Business for the Hygiene of the Chinese Community in Colonial Hong Kong

This book explores the political economy of public toilet provision in Hong Kong between the 1860s and 1930s, focusing on the cross-border night soil business, silk market, land market, and how these factors created a network of toilets in the colony. It aims to understand how urban governance functioned in colonies and how it intertwined with economic contingencies within a global economic system.

Format: Hardback
Length: 175 pages
Publication date: 10 April 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

Between the 1860s and 1930s, Hong Kong's government and local businesses provided public toilets through a complex process that was deeply intertwined with class and racial politics. This book, which examines public toilet provision from a political economy perspective, delves into the intricate interplay of various factors that shaped the provision of these essential facilities.

Firstly, it explores the cross-border night soil business, which involved the transportation of human waste from China's silk-producing region to Hong Kong. This business was crucial in providing the raw materials needed for the production of silk, but it also created a network of toilets that served the needs of the colonial population.

Secondly, the book examines the silk market between China and Colonial powers, which played a significant role in shaping the provision of public toilets. The demand for silk from Europe and the United States led to the development of a thriving silk industry in China, which in turn created a market for Hong Kong's night soil. This market facilitated the transportation of night soil from Hong Kong to China, where it was used as fertilizer for silk production.

Thirdly, the book explores the Hong Kong land market, which was dominated by the colonial government and Chinese business. The colonial government sought to control the land market to ensure that it remained profitable for itself and its investors. At the same time, Chinese business owners were eager to invest in the land market, which provided them with opportunities to expand their businesses.

The interplay of these factors, along with other economic and political considerations, led to the development of a network of public toilets in Hong Kong. The provision of these toilets was not just a matter of providing basic sanitation; it was also a means of controlling the colonial population and maintaining social order.

As the book demonstrates, the commercial viability of toilets created multiple logics and a new moral geography. It showed how the provision of public toilets was shaped by the interests of different actors, including the colonial government, local businesses, and the Chinese population. Exploring the topic of public toilet provision can help us gain a better understanding of how urban governance functioned in colonies and how it intertwined with economic contingencies within a global economic system.

The intended readership of this book includes academics and members of the general public with an interest in colonialism, public infrastructures, public health, government–business relations, and urban governance. By examining the complex history of public toilet provision in Hong Kong, this book provides valuable insights into the broader issues of colonialism, urbanization, and governance in the early 20th century.

Weight: 465g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811913952
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022