To understand the complicated religious landscape of Hong Kong, it may be best to first grasp the city's ethnic and cultural composition. As people came and went, so did religious influences. Furthermore, the location of historical settlements determined the local culture and, thereby, how such influences were adapted and localized. With this in mind, an awareness of population composition throughout history may serve as a primer for understanding Hong Kong's various religious elements. 

From the early Neolithic period, populations were concentrated along the coast, though there was sparse settlement inland. The inhabitants at this time mainly relied on fishing and shellfish for sustenance (in addition to hunting and gathering). Ethnic groups such as the Tanka and Hoklo (both considered "boat people") were also thought to have lived in the region since prehistoric times. Therefore, we can establish the beginnings of Hong Kong's connection to the coast and how location may have influenced local worship. Although Tin Hau was not yet established as a deity (nor were Buddhism or Taoism), indigenous religions were likely tied to the inhabitants' core needs and anxieties, as determined by their location. 

Most importantly, these archeological findings establish Hong Kong's history of coastal habitation, a trend that would culminate in the popularization of sea deities, namely Tin Hau.

From the Pre-Qin era to the Qing dynasty, the area saw gradual growth and an influx of Han Chinese people into the area. During the Pre-Qin period, the Ancient Yue people inhabited Hong Kong but were eventually assimilated under Han culture as a huge number of metropolitan Chinese migrated south. Despite efforts from rebel Zhao Tuo to assimilate Yue and Han cultures during the Nanyue Kingdom era (203-111), Yue culture seemed to completely disappear when Emperor Wudi took control of the region at the end of the Western Han. A trend of northern raids and warfare in North and Central China saw many people migrate to the relatively peaceful south. Furthermore, the opening of the Dayuling Pass in Guangdong (Tang) and the cultivation of the Pearl River Delta (Song) spurred economic growth in the region. The "Five Great Clans" of the Tang, Pang, Liu, Hau, Ng and Man clans arrived in Hong Kong, settling at places like Kam Tin and Tuen Mun and constituting the Punti or "original locality" as the earliest familial settlers in the area. Rising prosperity drew more people south during the Ming dynasty and the area saw significant growth. Many farmed, made salt, fished, pearl dove or planted incense trees for a living. 

The end result of this migration south was the influx of Han influence, including Buddhism and Taoism. These influences likely shaped and adapted to local religious ideals, as demonstrated by the large amount of temples dedicated to Tin Hau, a deity that would eventually become part of the Taoist pantheon.

However, during the Qing dynasty, the court orded all coastal inhabitants to move inland, and Hong Kong became largely wasteland. The ban was lifted after eight years and many Hakkas (another local ethnic group) moved back to Hong Kong and settled in remote areas; the Punti clans also came back. In total, about 16,000 people were driven inland from the county and only 1,648 were said to have returned. 

 

In 1685, Kangxi became the first emperor to open limited trade on a regular basis starting in Canton. He imposed tough terms of trade, restricting foreigners to certain areas. The British East India Company ventured to China in 1699 and trade with British merchants grew rapidly thereafter. However, trade eventually turned sour as Hong Kong Island was occupied by the British after the Opium Wars and claimed as a colony in 1841. At this time, the population of Hong Kong as about 7,450, mostly Tanka fishermen and Hakka charcoal burners living in coastal villages. 

Naturally, with the arrival of the British came the arrival of Christianity. However, despite the lacking population, Christianity did not suddenly convert the masses. Furthermore, in the 1850’s, large numbers of Chinese emigrated from China to Hong Kong due to the Taiping Rebellion. Floods, typhoons and famine in mainland China established Hong Kong as a place to seek refuge (The Hong Kong Story). This strengthened the traditional Chinese influence in the area, and, as the population remained mainly ethnically Chinese, so did religion skew toward Buddhism and Taoism.

By 1865, the population had grown to 125,000—only 2,000 of which were Americans and Europeans. It increased from 530,000 in 1916 to 725,000 in 1925 and was 1.6 million by 1941. The establishment of the free port made it a major entrepot and attracted people from both China and Europe. Society remained racially segregated and polarized due to British colonial policies and atttitudes. Despite a rise in British-educated (Christian educated) Chinese upper class by the late 1800s, race laws prevented Chinese from living in elite areas. Politically the majority of the Chinese population had little to no governmental influence. Those that did accepted their place in the hierarchy as communicators and mediators.