Migrants dirty and uneducated: poll
People are becoming less tolerant towards mainland migrants and regard them as uneducated and unhygienic, according to a survey.
The Chinese University poll found most people believe newly arrived migrants are here to take jobs and help themselves to welfare.
Dean of the Social Science Faculty, Professor Kenneth Chau Kin-lam, who is in charge of the survey, said: 'We have to start thinking that we are no longer a tolerant, liberal and pluralistic society.' The survey found new arrivals were generally seen as uneducated, dirty and with little understanding of the rule of law.
Among 836 respondents, 30 per cent had no intention of getting acquainted with the new arrivals and more than half stressed they would not marry a new immigrant.
Nearly 80 per cent thought the new arrivals had a low level of education, some 75 per cent believed the immigrants' concept of the rule of law was very weak and about 60 per cent described them as unhygienic.
About 80 per cent believed new arrivals were here to share welfare payouts and 60 per cent thought they would take locals' jobs.
Sixteen new arrivals interviewed said discrimination was serious.
But in some aspects, new migrants rated positively.
More than half of the respondents believed the newcomers were hard working and unselfish and that the cheap labour they provided would enhance the SAR's competitiveness.
Professor Chau attributed the cause of discrimination to the economic recession as well as cultural differences.
He urged the Government to deal with the discrimination as soon as possible, saying: 'The Government must provide more assistance to the new immigrants and affirm their contribution to Hong Kong.'
