More Hongkongers Identify as Chinese

Emigration, change of mindset may explain poll results

For the first time since 2018, more Hong Kong residents identify as "Chinese" compared to "Hongkonger" in previous years, according to a poll by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI).

While "Hongkonger" is still popular, there seems to be more people over 30 years of age who are identifying as Chinese.

One thousand Cantonese-speaking adults were surveyed from May 31 to June 5 by telephone.

The survey is conducted every six months

Those who identified as "Chinese" had increased from 56.8 to 61.5 when compared to Pori's similar study six months earlier. The latest results were the highest rating since December 2018.

Those who identified as a "member of the Chinese nation" rose from 60.7 to 65, and as "member of the PRC" also climbed from 53.6 to 59.1.

Meanwhile, those who described themselves as "Hongkonger", "Asian" and "global citizen" decreased across the board. "Hongkonger" got a rating of 75.4, the lowest since June 2017.

Additionally, more respondents over 30 identified as "Chinese" since 2020, while only 2 percent of those aged 18 to 29 did.

Current affairs commentator Derek Yuen, said during a press conference releasing Pori's findings, the results for Beijing were encouraging.

More people over 30 identify at Chinese

"Without Beijing implementing significant policies [to raise national identity recognition], it is already seeing favourable results," Yuen said.

He said the shift could be due to emigration, and people's changing mindset, especially those aged 30-49.

"These people recognise this is China's international financial centre," Yuen said. "In order to survive, prosper and thrive... you have to adjust your mindset."

However, Paul Wong, a lecturer at the University of Wollongong College Hong Kong's Faculty of Social Sciences, said during the same media briefing, that it was uncertain "if respondents were totally free of fear" when responding to recent surveys.

He hinted perhaps the national security law had impacted the survey findings as freedom of speech and thought were being constrained in the city.

"We don't know how many of them are speaking their true feelings," he said.

The explanations are plausible... or they just happened to call up pro-establishment respondents?

Maybe we'll have to check-in again in six months...