Advisory committee chaired by top official needed to address issues facing ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, think tank says

A committee should be set up to address problems faced by ethnic minorities and chaired by a top official such as the chief secretary or chief executive, a think tank has recommended.

The Zubin Foundation, which commissioned a study carried out by the University of Hong Kong into the status of ethnic minorities in the city, said it would be holding an information session next month for ethnic minority Hongkongers interested in sitting on the proposed advisory committee, and would be compiling a list of names for the government to choose from.

At an event yesterday organised by the foundation to mark the release of a report on the study - the first of its kind in Hong Kong - a panel of speakers called on the government to make "informed decisions" on education, employment and livelihood issues confronting Hong Kong's ethnic minorities, a process they said starts with compiling comprehensive statistics.

"In light of what we have found, we are asking ethnic minorities in Hong Kong to nominate themselves - those who want to sit on government advisory committees, who are committed to Hong Kong, with expertise in your field," said Shalini Mahtani, chairwoman of the foundation.

The study was carried out by HKU's Centre for Comparative and Public Law.

Mahtani said a full breakdown of statistics on ethnic minorities in areas such as kindergarten enrolment, ageing or the minimum wage had previously not been available.