China’s Guangdong province unveils new anti-discrimination measures after widespread reports of racism against Africans
- Black people in the southern province had complained of being kicked out of their accommodation and forcibly quarantined under Covid-19 control measures
- African diplomats invited to meeting between officials and business representatives where service providers were told they could not discriminate against customers
The measures, introduced on Saturday, are the latest attempt to make amends with the African community following reports that Africans were being forcibly quarantined, kicked out of their homes and denied service in shops and hotels under the guise of controlling the spread of Covid-19.
McDonald’s in China was forced to apologise last month after a store in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, posted signs prohibiting black people from entering.
On Saturday provincial officials in Guangdong called on representatives of industry to “resolutely oppose racism”, at a meeting between African diplomats and local business representatives.
The local government said service providers in the province were not allowed to treat Chinese and foreigners differently, or discriminate based on nationality, race, gender or skin colour, according to a report on the meeting by state media published on Sunday.