2007 North East Region Conference of ICSW Oct 22nd ~24th at Busan, Korea Organization: HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre Prese

1. Harsh Realities : The South Asian Migrant Workers Faced in Hong Kong---Applying the Asset-based Approach in building Self-efficiency among South Asian Migrant Workers 2007 North East Region Conference of ICSW Oct 22nd ~24th at Busan, Korea Organization:HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre Presented by:MR. Lo Kai Chung, Ben (Organizing Officer of Group and Community Work Unit)

2. Presentation Outline • An Introduction : Rationale and Discussion on South Asian Migrant Worker in Hong Kong • The Past: The Historical Background of South Asian Migrants in Hong Kong under colonial governance • The Present : The difficulties South Asian Migrants met after the change of sovereignty transformation of Hong Kong since 1997 • Their Future: A matter of social inclusion and building up of Self-reliance ability

3. Migrant Worker - A debatable Definition • A migrant worker is… - Someone who regularly works away from home, if they even have a home (Wikipedia) - A person who is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national (The United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families"defines) • The migrant worker in Hong Kong can be divided into three types: 1. Foreign domestic helper-  Don’t have Right of abode in the HKSAR  Limited type of work in HKSAR 2. Applicants of Quality Migrant Admission Scheme -  Absorb elite  Right of abode in the HKSAR after 7 years 3. South Asian Migrant Worker –  Right of abode in the HKSAR  Stayed in Hong Kong mostly because of their families Colonial background before 1997 handover

4. WHOtheyare ? The Profile of South Asians in Hong Kong Population in Hong Kong (by race / Census in 2006)

5. WHYwe should concern South Asian Migrant Workers ? • They have already right of abode of HKSAR compare with foreign domestic helper and quality Migrant • Long history on Integral Contribution of Hong Kong community • The decline of their economic influence compare with sovereignty handover in Hong Kong • They become the “Minorities of the Minorities” in terms of living standards and quality of life in Hong Kong

6. Indian (Sindhis) Population - The most numerous (75%) group among Indians in Hong Kong Religion - Predominantly Hindu Economic Status - Wealthiest among the South Asian communities in Hong Kong, traditionally in import export businesses Three Distinct Group of Population of South Asians Indian (Sikhs) • Population - Second most numerous (20%) group among Indians in Hong Kong • Religion - Predominantly Sikhism • Economic Status – Traditionally worked as guards and police officers; lately turned to middle-class professions such as teaching and financial sector.

7. Nepalese • Religions – Mostly Hindu, a substantial minority of Buddhist, a vocal minority of Christians • Economic Status – Many as security guards, some did mundane jobs such as cleaning, logistics, construction sites, a minority of affluent ones in import export businesses, small shops, etc Pakistani • Religion – Nearly 100% Muslims (Predominantly Sunnis) • Economic Status - Mostly mundane jobs such as logistics, construction sites, a minority of affluent ones in import export businesses, teachers, catering, small shops, etc

8. WHENdid they started to live in Hong Kong?The Past: The Historical Background of South Asian Migrants in Hong Kong 1841 British proclaimed Hong Kong as its colony • long History of South Asian Population - They were there when Hong Kong was born - Captain Elliot declared Hong Kong a British possession. Sikhs soldiers participated at the flag raising ceremony at Possession Point  Time Line

9. They contributed to Hong Kong as a developed city • All these century old institutions are still in operation today. • The top Hong Kong civil servant was once an Indian Mr. Harnam Singh Grewal (a Sikh), whose family history in Hong Kong dates back to late 1800s, was the Secretary for Transport and the Secretary for Civil Service in the 1980s

10. Securing Hong Kong’s prosperity --- Souths Asians in Police and Armed Force • Royal Hong Kong Police - The earliest policemen in Hong Kong were Indians (Sikhs) - A Multi-racial one existed in HK Police force, with white officers and constables of Indians, including Indian Muslim, many of whoe became Pakistanis after the 1947 Partition of India • Gurkha Brigadeof British Army in Hong Kong during - Collective term for elite British Army units which were comprised mainly of Nepalese Soldiers Major Units of the British Army in Hong Kong - 26th Gurkha Brigade (1948-1950) - 51st Infantry Brigade (disbanded 1976) - 48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade(1957-1976; renamed Gurkha Field Force 1976-97 ; returned to old title 1987-ca.1992) Gurkha Soldiers

11. The Present: South Asians and the 1997 handover 1997 Chinese resumed sovereignty of Hong Kong  Time Line (1) “Localization” (Chinese) of government recruitment and promotion policy - All government posts of Commissioner level or advance were held by Chinese, ethnic minority civic servants had to be fluent in Chinese so as to continue their works in Hong Kong - The rise of labor force from China since economic boom in 80’s - Building large infrustructure(such as New airport of HK) demanded large amount of low skills and dirty job opportunities

12. (2)Disbandof Gurkha Brigades:Prior to the 1997 handover • Large amount of Nepalese and some Indian had to seek jobs in the private sector (3) Official Languages Ordinance - English was declared the primary language in former Colonial Hong Kong for more than 130 years - Require all new legislation to be enacted in both English and Chinese - Basic Law declared English co-official language status with Chinese after 1997 handover  OralCantonese and written Chinese become the basic academic and language requirements in employment, education, and daily life

13. Hardest hit: Nepalese and Pakistani Least affected: Indian • Who with the low education background and rural lineage, left with Mundane jobs like construction worker, security guards and logistics (heavy-loading) • Who with strong tradition and mundanely emphasize on the education, mainly developed in financial service after 1997 handover Median Monthly Income (2001 Census) There it went: Indians were actually faring better than even the Hong Kong average in terms of median monthly income

14. Harsh Realities: Situation of South Asian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong after 1997 Two “Low” and one “High” Situation (in year 2001) 1. Low Level of Academic Attainment South Asian Children and youth are Lagging far behind their Chinese counterparts in terms academic attainment Census & Statistics Dept. (2001), Thematic Report – Ethnic Minorities, 2001 Population Census, Table 5.2, P.42. HKSAR

15. 1.2 Low Labour Force Participation Rate Low academic attainments in many instances meant low Labour Participation Rate Census & Statistics Dept. (2001), Thematic Report – Ethnic Minorities, 2001 Population Census, Table 6.2, P.52. HKSAR

16. 1.3 High CSSA (Social Security of the SAR government) Dependency Rate CSSA are making them trapped in the poverty-sustaining cycle. HK SKH Lady MacLehose Centre“, (2006), Understanding South Asians’ Needs in New Territories West”, G&C unit.

17. The reason why emerge the Harsh Realities of South Asian Migrant Workers • Language barriers After the 1997 hand over, Mandarin and Chinese is taking over English, as medium of instructions in many sectors, many South Asian can only speak little English due to the low skills the majority works in construction where Chinese is common language spoken • Low Skills Due to inadequate skill up-grade training opportunities, their skills are not up to the level as required with today construction  Many of them thus are unemployed or under-employed.

18. Insufficient Polices implementationfor South Asian Migrant Worker in Hong KongBy HKSAR Government

19. Under this Harsh RealitiesWhy they still stay in Hong Kong? (1) Sense of belonging towards Hong Kong - Like Hong Kong (Fair or Very much : 97.5%) - Hong Kong people are kind and helpful (Fair / agree and strongly agree : 72%) - Hong Kong People are Caring (Fair / agree and strongly agree 71%) - EM participants tend to have higher level of civic activeness - High Chinese naturalization rate of South Asian Migrant Worker ( 833 Pakistanis and 552 Indians apply of Chinese Nationality out of 4,372 application ) A Good Start for building a Multi-ethnic society in Hong Kong HK SKH Lady MacLehose Centre and Centre for Social Policy Studies, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2003), Understanding South Asians’ Needs in New Territories West”, G&C unit Wai-fong Ting, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, “Final report for evaluating the outcomes and impacts of The Community Invest ion and Inclusion Fund (CIIF)”, Health, Food and welfare bureau, HKSAR

20. Under this Harsh RealitiesWhy they still stay in Hong Kong? • Strengths of South Asian Migrant Worker in HK - Fluency in English (Comparatively Speaking) • - For the Educated few a More international worldview • - Strong Familial & Communal bonds • Asset that can be further enhance, so as to contribute their strengths and skills • to the mainstream society

21. Their future: A matter of social inclusion and building of Self-reliance ability  Time Line Into the future • The history of Service for South Asian Migrant Worker in HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre • The rising population of South Asians in our service boundaries started from 1997 • Provided language support and adapted course / service in 2000

22. Strategy of providing service for South Asian Migrant Worker by HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre

23. Service provided by HKSKH Lady MacLehose Centre to alleviate plights of South Asian Migrant Workers (A) Multi-racial Capital Building “Forging a better Tomorrow” - A self-Help and Mutual-Help Project for Multi-Vulnerable groups (2004-2007) “A Tie that Bind---our community of C.A.R.E & Colour- A project of Apprenticeship and enabling community environment for South Asian and local Chinese ”(2007-2010) • Government Funded project Community Investment & Inclusion Fund (CIIF), Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, HKSAR • Project highlight 1. Targeted vulnerable Group (South Asian Hong Kong residents, New arrivals from China and local) 2. Service recipients evolved into contributors through developing their strengths and create mutual-help and caring networks 3. Creating cross-sector and multi-cultural networking so as to promote self-reliance and build up Career Efficacy 4. Linked up to residents’ groups and organizations, fostering better social integration 5. Building a multi-ethnical community of harmony through participation of different racial groups and organizations

24. Overall Achievement of building Multi-racial social capital (1) Improved Self-Help and Mutual Help Capabilities of the Targeted Vulnerable Groups (2) Strength of the relationships and functions of the networks built amongst people from different social background (3) Increase Degree of Social Integration between Targeted Vulnerable Groups and their Local Mainstream Communities

25. Empowerment Work for South Asian Migrant Worker • Oxfam Hong Kong Funded project (2004-2007) • Project Highlight • Ground Work to meet their tangible needs: Mutual Support Groups, Tailor-made Retraining Course, Job Seeking Service, Cantonese Class, Translation Service, Escorting Service, Public Service Consultation, etc. • Identifying their needs and awareness raising: Research, School Talk, Focus Group, etc. • Organizing work: To organize our EM client to concern about their plight in employment, education, medical service and other government service sectors. Though the advocacy process, to empower the dispowered EM community, and train up community leader.

26. Overall Achievement of empowerment towards South Asian Migrant • Research and Press Release had raised the public awareness on the plight of the EM community is facing. • Had Raised the awareness of the EM community and built up the co-operation relationship with the EM community leader, Imma and Church leader to concern and advocate the “Race Discrimination Bill” • Our dispowered EM client had learnt to voice out their concern in Press Conference, to the Legislative Councilor regarding government service sector.

27. Social enterprises “ Love Multi-Culture” Development of Employment and Business Plan for South Asian (2007-2009) • Government Funded project Home Affair Bureau, HKSAR • Project Highlight • Objective of the project: • Increase the targeted women involvement in the community, Built up their sense of belongingness. • Help them to use their ability to generate income, to alleviate from poverty. • Project Content: • Start a design group for the Pakistani Women, Produce their handmade craft. • The project had funded by “Enhancing Self-reliance through District Partnership Programme”, and had open a shop in the nearby shopping mall. • Targeted women can involve more to the community issues through running the business, and to earn income by their handmade craft ability.

28. Overall Achievement of Social Enterprises towards South Asian Migrant • Create job opportunities and offer work opportunities in a real-world working environment • Help prep the disadvantaged individuals to transit to work in the open labour market. e.g. Single Pakistani woman employed as saleslady • Offer the possibility of direct job creation. e.g. Cooperating with a fashion & garment company • Capability of women and their adaptability in the community is rising. e.g. Married Pakistani woman is finally able to secure a job

29. “Forging a Better Tomorrow” Building a City of Multi-Racial Harmony with care, trust and helping attitude Dream will come true!