Anti-migrant vitriol shuts Facebook page
A Facebook page criticising new migrants for demanding they also get the HK$6,000 handed to permanent residents in a budget U-turn was closed yesterday morning after somebody claimed to have reported to Facebook 'hate' messages posted on it.
The page attracted more than 80,000 internet users in less than a week. Some accused new migrants of greed.
A new page was soon set up and had attracted nearly 13,000 users by 11pm yesterday. Many dubbed the migrants 'locusts' for eating away at their job opportunities and social welfare.
'[New migrants] have done nothing but they want the HK$6,000. They immediately ask for everything once they come to Hong Kong. Do you know the lives of many Hong Kong-born people are worse than theirs?
'You are not qualified to ask for this and that. If you are not satisfied, please go away,' Facebook user VinZx Chan said in the group.
Another user called Sze Tse said: 'I really don't understand why you new migrants feel happy if you can get the HK$6,000. Just ask yourself, how much have you contributed to Hong Kong?'
Meanwhile, another group which supports the new migrants had gathered about 2,000 users, with some pledging to report all the 'hate' comments to Facebook so that they could be removed.
Sze Lai-shan of the Society for Community Organisation, a group which serves new migrants, said the cash handout had deepened social conflicts.
'It is problematic as it excludes new immigrants, which is against basic human rights principles ... the government has taken the lead to polarise the community,' she said.
The organisation has received more than 200 complaints in less than a week about the budget.
The Equal Opportunities Commission expressed concern about the discriminatory comments posted online.
It has received more than 10 inquiries regarding the HK$6,000 payout. Some said it was a discriminatory scheme while others said the new immigrants should not be entitled to the payout.
The commission said it would monitor the situation closely and the government's implementation of the decision to give the cash handouts given that the administrations had not yet released details of the scheme or set out the criteria for getting the money.
A cause of conflict
Of Hong Kong's population of seven million, migrants yet to qualify for permanent residency account for: 4.8%
