Letters | Coronavirus pandemic: why Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities have it harder

Covid-19 has affected Hongkongers in many respects, but some of us have it harder than we would have expected.

Many members of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority communities have faced discrimination in their workplace simply because of their race. Although some time has passed since a senior health official made a racially derogatory comment, its repercussions have been far-reaching.

Since the comment, members of Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities have faced increased discrimination. Some were not allowed to work because they were “South Asians”, some were asked to take the Covid-19 test repeatedly while their ethnic Chinese colleagues did not have to, some had to prove that they do not live in Yau Tsim Mong district, and many were not allowed to return to work even though their tests came back negative.

Members of our ethnic minority communities most affected are the daily wage earners, for example in the construction and food and beverage sectors. Being forced not to work, they have struggled to put food on the table and to pay rent. The damage caused by a reckless comment can be extensive. 

I do everything a local ethnic Chinese person does, the only difference is my skin colour.