The article by Tsang Yok-sing headlined 'Ethnic minorities: count them in' (South China Morning Post, February 19) was thought-provoking. Mr Tsang, who is a legislator and chairman of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong, emphasised the importance of promoting cross-cultural integration in the special administrative region. The Hong Kong Indian community is the largest ethnic minority in Hong Kong. Its contribution to society and the economy has frequently been acknowledged. Yet, its integration with society has been very tenuous. In the past, prominent legislators like Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, James Tien Pei-chun and Christine Loh Kung-wai, have taken up the causes of ethnic minorities. Thanks to a lack of cross-cultural integration, a subtle form of discrimination practised by a few people has been highlighted. Such discrimination is bad for a multicultural society like Hong Kong. Because of the importance of this issue, the Indian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, with the co-operation of the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations, commissioned the Research Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong to undertake a study, focusing on cross-cultural co-operation and integration of the Hong Kong Indian community. The study is almost complete and a book will be out in the next few months. Mr Tsang and Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping have said that more measures must be taken by the government to address the problems I have described. Taking Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia as examples, we should explore various avenues for integration. Education plays an important role and multicultural schools would speed up integration. Greater participation by ethnic minorities in the political process and representation in policy-making bodies like the Legislative Council will encourage minority communities to take a more active role in the process of integration. There must be closer examination of the proposal to scrap certain provisions of a law concerning racial hatred. If this law was repealed it would, in effect, remove a form of legal protection for ethnic minorities. I am grateful to Mr Tsang for taking up the cause of Hong Kong's ethnic minorities and would encourage more Legco members to join us in our efforts to bring about integration. M. ARUNACHALAM Chairman The Indian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong
