相对于大部分新马华裔祖籍来自闽粤两省，本论文将谈论的对象是居住于沙巴州的华北社群。这群身份独特的华北人，是在双方政府（即中华民国袁世凯政府以及当时殖民沙巴的英属北婆罗洲特许公司）签约下，于1913年从中国河北省、天津、北京等华北地区，举家搬迁移民至沙巴亚庇。除了详谈这群华北人迁徙的原因与过程、初期的社会文化特征外，本论文兼论他们在当地的经济活动，并略谈论其饮食文化、节庆、“红白”事习俗，以及他们目前的概况（包括现居地、与当地社群和中国的相互关系等）。
Most Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia owe their origin to Fujian and Guangdong. However，this paper focuses on the northern chinese at sabah. The northern chinese group with special identity was a resultant of agreement signed between the two governments of Republican China ruled by President Yuan Shikai and the British North Borneo Chartered Company of Sabah colonial government at that time. Besides of discussing the reasons for migration，the process and their social cultural characteristics in early days，this paper also touches on their local economic activities，food diet，custom and festive celebrations，as well as a survey of their current situation in Sabah today.
