Chinese Priests in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong (1850–1950)

This chapter examines the historical role of Chinese Catholic priests in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong during the late Qing and early Republican eras, analyzing their contributions to sino-Western cultural exchange and the localization of Christianity. As intermediaries between French missionaries (such as the Société des Missions Étrangères de Paris) and local communities, these priests facilitated religious adaptation while navigating colonial and nationalist tensions. Drawing on missionary archives, diocesan records, and Chinese gazetteers, the chapter highlights how the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong—hubs of cross-cultural interaction—shaped the dual identity of indigenous clergy.