Amid rising intolerance, Hong Kong must renew its commitment to stand against racism

In 1966, the United Nations declared March 21 to be International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – a platform for communities around the world to reflect on their own battles against racism and steps forward. This year marks its 50th anniversary, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Equal Opportunities Commission. Indeed, this provides an opportune moment for Hong Kong to consider its progress and challenges in achieving racial equality.

Although there has been clear advancement over the years, not least with the passage of the Race Discrimination Ordinance in 2008, racial inequality remains entrenched in different facets of daily life.

There is ample evidence to demonstrate that ethnic minority Hongkongers continue to face enormous barriers to equal opportunities, starting from an early age, which leaves them more vulnerable to intergenerational poverty.

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In the government’s report in December 2015, the poverty rate of South Asian households with children, after policy intervention, stood at 31 per cent, nearly double the comparable figure for overall households with children.

Analysis in 2015 by the Hong Kong Institute of Education also indicated that the poverty rate for South Asian families increased significantly from 2001 to 2011, even as it decreased slightly over the same period for Chinese families. The researchers linked the poverty situation of ethnic minority families specifically to problems of integration, including cultural and language barriers which leave many unable to access the necessary support.

What is sorely needed is a comprehensive policy solution covering different domains, including education, employment and access to services. We has consistently called for more targeted and multi-level support measures, starting from the pre-primary stage, to assist ethnic minority children to learn Chinese, taking into account their specific needs as second- or third-language learners, and to widen their access to higher and tertiary qualifications.

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The government should hire more ethnic minority applicants into the civil service, to enable the viewpoints and needs of their communities to be integrated into policymaking and public service.