Almost nobody in Hong Kong under 30 identifies as “Chinese”

IN THE sea of protesters on the streets of Hong Kong in the past three months, one can sometimes spot shirts plastered with the Oxford English Dictionary’s entry for Hongkonger: “a native or inhabitant of Hong Kong”. It is a telling slogan. What began in June as opposition to an unpopular extradition bill has grown into a broader movement against the Chinese government’s influence. At its core is a defence of Hong Kong’s distinct identity, with its comparative liberties, which many believe are under threat.

This identity has shifted considerably...