James Hayes

James William Hayes (8 November 1930 – 6 July 2023) was a Hong Kong historian and civil servant.

James Hayes held a BA from Queen Mary College, University of London, and an MA in history. He completed a Ph.D. from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 1975.

James Hayes worked in Hong Kong's New Territories for almost half his thirty-two years of government service. He joined the British Hong Kong government as Cadet Officer Class II in 1956. He retired as Regional Secretary of the New Territories in 1987. He wrote extensively on the history and anthropology of the New Territories.

Hayes died on 6 July 2023, at the age of 92.