The Manchus came from the north, and were generally dismissive of southern China (south of the Yangzi). My mother's Chinese family were bureaucrats who served in Chinese imperial courts (originally from Anhui and Wuxi but lived in Beijing). The Qing court had a strong northern bias, and unpopular officials were sent to Guangdong in something like internal exile, with instructions to be left there for their careers. For this reason, Guangdong shifted to dependency on western trade, and it became disconnected from the rest of China, especially the north.

I believe that this issue became part of why China's current rulers have such an obsession with Chinese national unity. They understand that if any single part, such as Hong Kong, becomes disconnected from the rest of China, that can become the entry point for western exploitation of Chinese internal divisions such as happened during China's Republican period. It explains why the Party does not permit factionalism.