Research Highlights

From 1950 to 1969, the Chinese writer Xu Xu (徐訏, 1908–1980) published more than 40 novels in Hong Kong newspapers and periodicals, reflecting his sustained commitment to literary production. As a prominent representative of the “southbound intellectuals,” Xu played a significant role in shaping Hong Kong’s postwar literary landscape. However, his works have not been sufficiently examined in relation to the city’s socio-political context during this period.

This research addresses this gap by recontextualising Xu’s Hong Kong novels within the framework of the Cultural Cold War, with particular focus on “Greenback culture,” a U.S.-funded initiative that promoted Western-oriented Chinese literature. It analyses how Xu’s writings intersected with colonial power structures and local literary dynamics in the 1950s and 1960s.

Moving beyond conventional textual analysis, the research further investigates Xu’s serialised publications to uncover patterns of literary production, circulation, and readership. By reconstructing the reading experiences of contemporary audiences, it situates these works within broader cultural, social, and political developments.

Finally, the research extends literary inquiry into digital innovation by developing interactive “visual novel” games based on Xu’s fiction. This interdisciplinary approach enhances public accessibility, engages younger audiences, and contributes to the emerging field of techno-humanities.