Discrimination and exclusion towards ethnic minority groups, especially towards South Asians, has always been a problem in Hong Kong. Hong Kongers, aware of this long-standing issue, are ready for a change.
The struggles
Language barriers and cultural differences create difficult challenges that ethnic minorities encounter on a daily basis in Hong Kong. It is hard for them to find a well-paid job without having to deal with the discrimination they have to face in their day-to-day lives.
Non-profit organisations and community groups are aware of this issue. They have voiced their complaints about the discrimination ethnic minority groups face in the areas of education, employment and housing, among others.
An insight into a dark-skinned minority’s life
There are 3,144 Africans amongst the 7.5 million people living in Hong Kong. However, many have never felt truly comfortable in the place they call home.
According to CNN, Zaran Vachha was born and raised in Hong Kong. Despite this, he has been spat at, segregated and policed simply due to the colour of his skin.
He also mentions that occasionally, people move away to get further from him whilst he’s travelling on the MTR, which is a completely unnecessary thing to do.
Vaccha further claims that he has been denied taxi service. “All I’d want to do is to get home, and no taxis would stop for me.”
How Covid-19 has made matters worse for ethnic minority groups
Racial inequalities have worsened since Covid-19 began, notes Shiela Bonifacio from SCMP. She claims that migrant domestic workers like her have been singled out for the blame of the recent coronavirus outbreaks occurring in their dormitories.
“Not all Covid-19 information is available and accessible to all migrant workers in their native language, but we are always very careful in taking care of our own hygiene and our own health, because if we get sick, it’s not just us that are affected, it’s our families in the Philippines and Indonesia who rely on our earnings here,” said Shiela.
Other examples of discrimination towards ethnic minority groups include how:
Some were not allowed to work even if they tested negative for Covid-19
Some were asked to take the Covid-19 test multiple times, while the ethnically Chinese workers in the same workplace only needed to once
Ethnic minority food deliverers were rejected by customers
Pay-cuts and lay-offs disproportionately affected ethnic minorities
The Race Discrimination Ordinance
The RDO is an anti-discrimination law enacted in 2008 that aims to protect people from racial discrimination, harassment and vilification.
It is necessary because although ethnic minorities make up 8% of Hong Kong’s population, at times the lack of understanding and knowledge of other cultures, languages and customs can lead to prejudice amongst society. It is essential that these underrepresented groups are heard and protected in the Hong Kong community, creating a safer and healthier environment where people of all kinds can come together as one.
What the government can do:
There are countless ways the government can further support ethnic minorities, including bridging the gap between the Chinese and ethnic minority communities in terms of jobs in both the public and private sector, organising language courses to overcome language barriers, and celebrating a wider range of cultures in schools.
It is important to remember that ethnic minorities are also a part of Hong Kong, that they also follow the same rules and regulations. It is only fair for them to be treated the same, too.
Sources:
Chetri, N. (2021). Coronavirus pandemic: why Hong Kong’s minorities have it harder. Retrieved 10 August 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3126459/coronavirus-pandemic-why-hong-kongs-ethnic-minorities-have-it
Race Discrimination Ordinance and I. (2021). Retrieved 10 August 2021, from https://www.eoc.org.hk/eoc/graphicsfolder/showcontent.aspx?content=race%20discrimination%20ordinance%20and%20i
Ting, V. (2020). Covid-19 further entrenched income, health, racial and educational inequalities across Hong Kong, experts say. Retrieved 10 August 2021, from https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3115488/how-covid-19-further-entrenched-income-health
Yeung, J. (2021). Spat at, segregated, policed: Hong Kong's dark-skinned minorities say they've never felt accepted. Retrieved 10 August 2021, from https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/21/asia/hong-kong-racism-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
Writer: Bernice Lau
Editor: Katherine Yan
Thumbnail: Soham Chopra & Alicia Fok
Comments