From the “New Territories people” to “indigenous inhabitants”: Identity construction of the rural population in colonial Hong Kong

This research article revisits how the Heung Yee Kuk rejected but then embraced the colonial construction of “indigenous inhabitants” in relation to their self-identification. The discussion elucidates how the colonial government negated the Heung Yee Kuk’s attempt to stand itself as an organisation that represented all the people living in the New Territories while recognising the Kuk as an indigenous organisation only. Determining the dissents from the Kuk are also covered. This article demonstrates how the Heung Yee Kuk counter-employed their status as an indigenous organisation to advance their political participation and thereby secure their continuity in the post-colonial era.