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Hong Kong and its racial divide

Members of the Hong Kong Unison, a nonprofit that helps ethnic minorities, petition the UN to call for education policy change in May 2014, citing racial discrimination.

Members of the Hong Kong Unison, a nonprofit that helps ethnic minorities, petition the UN to call for education policy change in May 2014, citing racial discrimination.

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The City of Hong Kong is known as an international hub of people but, minorities don’t feel accepted. After being pressured by international organizations Hong Kong executed the anti-racism law in 2008.

The challenge that ethnic minorities face is the Cantonese language. According to the Hong Kong free press, within the education system, the Chinese language applicant is required to have indirect discrimination against ethnic groups.

In an interview with CNN, 34-year-old Zaran Vachha speaks about being treated differently because of the color of his skin. “I’ve always considered Hong Kong my home, but I’ve always felt like an outsider,” said Vachha. “Being a person of color in Hong Kong, you get looked down on, no matter what… The darker you are, the worse you’re treated.” He has been cussed at, denied public services, and even arrested.

Minorites make up 4% of the population, mostly college students and domestic workers. In 2013 it was reported by CNN, that a 27-year domestic worker was denied permanent residency.

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File photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

Immigration laws make it harder for certain ethnic groups to normalize their life in Hong Kong. Utrecht University professor, Maggi Leung, describes the city’s immigration and citizenship policies as “discriminative.”

The push for equality around the world doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The black lives matter movement this past summer sparked worldly protest due to racism and police brutality. Hong Kong approaches the matter by wanting education systems changed and laws to be suitable and equal for everyone.

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