Complex sentence: Cantonese people were particularly pride in their distinctive culture and languages, and were aware of their difference from other Chinese, and therefore the arrival of the British was seen by many as an opportunity to escape from their Northern hegemon.
Split into simpler sentences: Cantonese people were particularly pride in their distinctive culture and languages, and were well aware of their difference from other Chinese. The arrival of the British was therefore seen by many as an opportunity to escape from their Northern hegemon.