 How many Hong Kongers?
At last count, there were approximately seven million people making Hong Kong their home. 95% are of Chinese descent. Most came from Guangdong province, blending easily with indigenous Hakka, Hoklo, and Tanka groups. Whether their ancestors were Han, Hui, Mongol, or Manchurian, locals identify themselves simply as "Hong Kong people." This is changing, however, as new blood flows in from Mainland immigrants, who are strengthening ethnic and ideological ties to the motherland.
Fancy some Foreign Flavor?
The Chinese majority forms the core of the local culture. Yet Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city with a significant foreign population.
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Many South Asian families have been here for generations, arriving during British rule and choosing to remain after the handover. More than 500,000 others from around the world also live here at any given time, for education, employment, or long-term business. Filipinos and form the largest foreign contingent (over 130,000 each), followed by Americans and Thai (over 20,000). Other North Americans, Europeans, Koreans, and Japanese are active in commerce and finance; workers from nearly everywhere have also come to Hong Kong.
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