Lin, Tat Kit. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-221). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / List of Tables and Illustrations --- p.vi / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Significance and Goals --- p.2 / Fieldsite Specification --- p.10 / Literature Review --- p.14 / Theories of Ethnicity / Religion and Ethnicity / Ethnic Studies in Hong Kong / Christianity and Ethnicity in Hong Kong / Christian and other Religious Studies in Hong Kong / Theoretical Orientation --- p.25 / Interpretive Approach / Constructivist Approach / Research Methods --- p.29 / Personal Interviews / Informal Interviews with Church Members / Participant Observation / Review of Church Publications / Structure of the Thesis --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- "The Chaoshan Region, Chaozhou Immigrants, Swatow Baptists and the Compatriot Ethnic Churches in Hong Kong" --- p.37 / An Overview of the Chaoshan Region --- p.39 / Chaozhou Immigrants and the Teochiu in Hong Kong --- p.42 / The Compatriot Ethnic Churches in Hong Kong --- p.51 / Baptist Missionary Work in Hong Kong and the Chaoshan Region --- p.54 / Early Baptist Missionary Work in Hong Kong / Baptist Missionary Work in Shantou and Hong Kong / A Brief History of the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church --- p.62 / Summary --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- Expressions of Chaozhou Identity in the Kowloon City Swatow Baptist Church --- p.69 / The Label --- p.70 / The External Features of Ethnic Identity --- p.73 / The Use of Chaozhou Language / Objects and Activities Linked to Chaozhou Origin / The Transformed Expressions of the Traditional Chaozhou Identity / Subtle Group Boundaries in Church Structure / Subtle Group Boundaries in the Wider Baptist Circle / The Subjective Experience of Church Members --- p.97 / The Spirit of Ethnic Solidarity in the Church / The Affirmation of Chaozhou Identity / Summary --- p.112 / Chapter Chapter 4. --- Reasons for Insisting on Chaozhou Language and Chaozhou Identity --- p.117 / Explanations Proposed by Church Members --- p.118 / "Explanation One---""Most people in this Church are Chaozhou; so of course we keep our Chaozhou identity """ / "Explanation Two----“We need to protect our Tradition """ / Explanation Three---“This is a practical way to absorb Chaozhou Christians and Chaozhou non-believers´ح / Explanation Four---“We need to take care of the aged Chaozhou members ´ة´ة / Explanation Five---“It's can opportunity to learn a language ´ة´ة / Psychocultural Interpretation --- p.132 / Psychocultural Explanation---“´ةm afraid of losing my Chaozhou identity´ح / Summary --- p.146 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- Church Mechanisms Reinforcing Ethnicity --- p.149 / Mechanisms of Naturalization --- p.150 / Religious Meeting as Co-Ethnic Member Meeting / Attendance Numbers of the Morning Service / Annual Celebration Dinner / Mechanisms of Persuasion --- p.160 / Chaozhou Identity Contested / Chaozhou Identity Reinforced / Summary --- p.181 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Conclusion: The Role of Religion in Maintaining Ethnicity --- p.185 / Preserving Ethnicity in a Church Setting: Religion Helps --- p.186 / Maintaining Ethnicity under Disadvantageous Social Condition: Religion Stimulates --- p.196 / Insisting on Ethnicity without Flexibility: Religion Stunted --- p.201 / Bibliography --- p.208