Hong Kong is international and diverse, and the more than 600,000 ethnic minorities living here are a microcosm. What are the aspirations of the ethnic minorities working in the city for a month after the new Hong Kong SAR government team took office? What are their expectations for building a pluralistic and inclusive society? Let's pay attention to the series of reports on "I See Hong Kong Open a New Chapter - Hong Kong from the Perspective of Foreigners".
Hong Kong's ethnic minorities: eager to "tear down the wall" and look forward to communion
They live in Hong Kong, with different skin tones, which is a stark footnote to the cosmopolitanism here. They may have been rooted for many years, or they are natives, and behind the label of non-Chinese, they have the same dreams as seven million people. They make up less than one-tenth of Hong Kong's population, and they are a minority in the city.
According to the latest statistics from the HONG KONG SAR government's 2021 census, ethnic minorities account for 8.4% of Hong Kong's total population. In addition to Filipinos and Indonesians, who work mainly as domestic workers, there are about 300,000 ethnic minorities.
Due to linguistic, cultural and other differences, there is a natural gap between ethnic minorities and mainstream society. Behind the often vague identity is the embarrassing situation of life, education, employment and other aspects. The hometown that cannot be returned to, the Hong Kong that is difficult to integrate, the four words "minority" are therefore more complicated.
In fact, successive SAR governments have been working hard to narrow this gap, and the new SAR Government's Policy Address is about to be released, and they have more expectations under the epidemic.
Hong Kong's Ethnic Minorities: The Government Wants to Crack the "Crux of Education"
Mu Guangming, the head of the Kowloon Mosque, has been in Hong Kong for more than 20 years and has witnessed more than 300,000 Muslims working here. Once employed in the Pakistan Air Force, he chose to lead his family across the ocean and rooted in Hong Kong. In his eyes, green, peaceful and inclusive is the biggest attraction of this city. He believes that the mosque, located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, which embraces the faces of South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and even Africa, is a manifestation of Hong Kong's diversity.
However, he also admitted that diversity reflects cultural coexistence, and there is still a lot of room for true cultural integration, and language is the biggest obstacle.
Mu Guangming, Arch-Imam of the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre in Hong Kong:
Most of the schools here are Chinese schools, and our kids are always trying to make up for Chinese abilities. But in fact, our children can't compete with the local children because other children learn Chinese or local language at home, but our children only learn from school, and it is difficult for them to master the language.
Most of the work in Hong Kong is language efficient, an area where our young people are lacking. Our Cantonese and Chinese are not very good. In fact, the new generation of our community, who are good at speaking Chinese and good at communication, but we are still not fully part of the local Chinese youth.
Although many of the younger generation born and raised speak Cantonese fluently, Chinese reading and writing is still a major obstacle for many people. The Chinese education of non-Chinese-speaking children is a great test for the current education system, and the subsequent choice of further education and employment development directly affect the integration of the entire ethnic minority community into society. Therefore, for the new SAR government, Mu Guangming believes that what minorities are most looking forward to and most urgently need is the improvement of education policies.
Mok Cheung-chiung once described Lee Ka-chiu, a police officer, as having long experience in hong Kong and promising to lead Hong Kong to a new chapter, which made him look forward to the new government team.
Mu Guangming, Arch-Imam of the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre in Hong Kong:
The new team of the HKSAR Government has brought new vitality and new thinking. Before the Chief Executive of the HKSAR was sworn in, I had the opportunity to meet him, and he was open-minded. So I hope that the Chief Executive will respond to this issue and provide help. I hope he can provide the space or other needs that our group needs. Similarly, he will enhance and win the confidence of Hong Kong's youth, and he will lead his Hong Kong citizens forward and make progress.
In terms of long-term development, Mu Guangming also hopes that the SAR government can promote legislation, relax restrictions, and provide more opportunities for ethnic minorities to join the civil service.
Hong Kong's Minorities: Politics needs minority voices
Involved in politics and speaking out for minorities, a younger generation of Hong Kongers of Indian descent, Pak Chun Tat, has put his ambitions into practice. Phoenix reporters met with the founder of the Ethnic Inclusion Education and Welfare Association at the Eight Townships Recycling Yard at the foot of Tai Mo Shan in Yuen Long. Regular visits to ethnic minority friends here are a habit of Bai Junda.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, educated overseas, served in the Correctional Services Department, and now runs a security company, he also has a status as a member of the Hong Kong think tank Democratic Ideas. When he graduated from high school, he applied for a job, because he could speak fluent Cantonese through a telephone interview, but was rejected in the interview because of the face of a minority, this experience became his original intention to fight for the rights and interests of minorities. In his view, the presence of more ethnic minorities in politics is a more effective way to promote the acceptance of minorities in mainstream society.
Founder of the Hong Kong Racial Inclusion Education and Welfare Association, Mr. Bai Chun-tat:
I think for so many years, since 1997, in the district councils and even in the Legislative Council, there has been no minority. Because we represent our community, I think the government should consider that. We are here for a very small minority group, and if we do regional elections, we may not get votes because the local Chinese don't understand our culture, so how could they choose you?
Like Mu Guangming, he believes that whether it is education or career development, the current language policy issues are the primary issues that need to be adjusted urgently. In addition, he expects the government to increase its publicity efforts to promote multiculturalism and to dissolve as much as possible the wall built by different groups due to the lack of awareness.
From the application for a SAR passport to the subsidy for special industries under the epidemic, Bai Junda is preparing an outline and actively preparing for a meeting with the Chief Executive in the near future, hoping that Li Jiachao's team will hear the voice and make changes. At this point, he was quite confident.
Founder of the Hong Kong Racial Inclusion Education and Welfare Association, Mr. Bai Chun-tat:
I'm sure he'll do a good job because he's been working in the Force before. He just said it and he did it. Yes, I understand. Because he came from the disciplined army, I think he is now working on adjusting the various departments of the government, and slowly the government will be better, so it will be effective, not just talk. Hope is there, and it will come true, I am confident.
Diversity and inclusiveness are the core values of Hong Kong, and to tear down the wall in front of it, it will take the joint efforts of the government and all sectors of society. As Li Jiachao said in his previous meeting with minority representatives, only when everyone sits in a big boat and props up in the same direction can they come to fruition.
Source: Phoenix TV Zhao Long Hong Kong report
Edit: Motoyama