People from Hong Kong are commonly called "Hongkongers" or "Hong Kong people." "Hongkonger" is an informal, colloquial term that emphasizes local identity, while "Hong Kong people" is more formal and used in official contexts
. Other terms include "Hong Kongese," though it is better used as an adjective rather than a noun for people
. The term "Hongkonger" has historical usage dating back to the 19th century and was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014
. In Cantonese, people from Hong Kong are called 香港人 (Hoeng1gong2 jan4), which directly translates to "Hong Kong person"
. While Hongkongers are ethnically diverse, the majority are Han Chinese of Cantonese descent, and Cantonese is the dominant language spoken
. Some people from Hong Kong may prefer to identify as "Hongkonger" rather than "Chinese" due to cultural and political reasons, especially given Hong Kong's unique status as a Special Administrative Region of China
. In summary, the most widely accepted and respectful terms are "Hongkonger" or "Hong Kong people," with "Hongkonger" being the most popular informal demonym.
