Harmony spokesman gets off to a quiet start

The Home Affairs Bureau's new Harmony Ambassador, Shafi Mohammad, speaks Cantonese, Urdu, Arabic and English, but he did not speak a word at the Vibrant People, Harmonious Community Activities programme at the Metro City shopping centre in Po Lam yesterday.

The masters of ceremony, including one Hong Kong-born South Asian comedian, escorted Mohammad and other 'core values' ambassadors on and off stage for photographs three times at the first in a series of city-wide community events to be sponsored by the bureau.

'It's not easy for [ethnic minorities] to adapt to Hong Kong,' said David Leung Chun-wing, deputy director of the Home Affairs Department, explaining why he chose Mohammad to be the harmony ambassador, 'Mohammad overcame barriers and helps others do the same.'

A third-generation Hong Kong resident of Pakistani heritage, Mohammad teaches ethnic minorities English and Cantonese. He also teaches English, physics, biology and chemistry as president of the Mutual Aid Committee.

For the next 12 months he will be one of eight ambassadors representing the bureau's four 'core values' of vitality, creativity, harmony and discovery. They will promote their values at similar events planned with individual district councils.

Leung estimated the bureau would devote HK$153 million in stimulus funds to the events, slated to create thousands of jobs.

He said Hong Kong was an exceptionally tolerant home for Muslims but felt changes must be made to better integrate members of minority communities into society.

Mohammad said: 'Many don't have a chance to become civil servants. After '97, you must read and write Cantonese.'

He has encouraged officials to enlist South Asians who are Hong Kong residents and are fluent in Urdu and English to act as public relations personnel.