We all choose our attitudes. When someone asks you that question, I suggest you choose to be positive about it. There's no point trying to stop people from saying it, and only China might consider doing that anyway.

I think there may be a bit of paranoia creeping in here. I live in
the country, where everybody knows everybody. When a new face
turns up in town, "where do you come from?" is a common question

As an older Australian who has been around the country and come in contact with people from many countries, I have found that a fairly reliable indication of whether someone is born here or not, is their proficient use of the language and the accent they use. This means that when I ask the question, I can do it in a way which produces a positive outcome. Most people will respond positively if you show some genuine interest in their background.

David

I've been asked this question plenty of times since coming to Australia from China 20 years ago. I've never seen any harm in treating the question as one based upon curiosity and an attempt at having something more interesting than the weather to discuss. In my opinion, to interpret and react to the question as having racist undertones when none are evident is itself a derogatory act, based upon the assumption that Australians are inherently racist.

Chau xiaojie,
Nin hao ma?

One of the first things I see when I look at my old Chinese text book (published in Beijing) is : Ni shi na guo ren ?
[Where are you from ?]

So it would appear that asking someone where they are from is not some strange trait endemic to Aodaliya!

A major difference is that Australian born Chinese -many of whom speak with a distinctive western Sydney twang,with liberal lashings of "yeh mate" and "bloody hell" –are unlikely to be in any real sense seen as foreigners (except, in very limited circles).

But there is an entrenched habit on the part of large sections of the (Mandarin speaking) Chinese community to refer to anyone non-Chinese as a wai guo ren [a foreigner] ,or the much less tasteful (Cantonese equivalent) guilo [which despite revisionist attempts to explain it away literally means foreign devil].

And another thing of note is that until very recently there was a tendency on the part of Hong Kong cinema –on those limited occasions when they had Western roles -- to portray Westerners as slow & dimwitted.

Now, it is not my intention to run a Anglos are better that Hans argument. But I feel the need to challenge some of your assumptions. Since many of the readers of OLO and other Forums (and mostly those on the left of politics) still cling to the archaic meme that Australia is an island of racism in a Asian sea of tolerance –and it suites them to peddle that line.

So please do not feel too offended if and when someone asks “Where are you from?”
I am sure that in the vast majority of cases it is not meant to isolate you.

You are most welcome.

And don’t be in a hurry to trade your Hong Kong accent for a Kath & Kim twang.

Zhufu

Hi Wesa,

I must correct a simple inaccurracy.

While it is correct to say the final element of The White Australia Policy was abolished in 1972, it is incorrect to say the White Australia Policy was abolished in 1973. All that occurred in 1973 was the Whitlam Government ammended the Immigration Act to allow immigrants to attain citizenship after three years residence.

Harold Holt, in 1949 as Immigration Minister, in the newly elected, Menzies Government, started the dismantling of the White Australia Act with minor ammendments. While other relaxations occurred during Menzies term as PM it Holt's first action as PM in 1966 to amend the Immigration Act to remove restrictions to block immigration of non-Europeans, that had the greatest impact. Later followed such amendments as the removal of the 'English Language Test' which had required new arrivals to translate a piece of writing into English. The piece selected could be from any other European language and not necessarily from the native language of the arrival.

By 1966 both major political parties had removed the White Australia Policy from their policy platforms.

This history is often overlooked by political commentators but it was to Holt's and the Liberals great credit they started the process. It was not until the occurred did the Labor Party catch up.

This is the most accurate link to a chronology of events I have found. Other searches on the topic are also quite imformative.

http://www.wanowandthen.com/White-Australia-Policy.html

The White Australia Policy was a dismantling over time rather than as a single act of abolishing. I don't know whether it was the changing population attitudes that led to the changes or whether Government Policy led to a change of heart in the population. It was probably a combination of both.

Cheers