Chinese street names to stay unless derogatory term sparks outcry

The Chinese names of at least four Hong Kong streets that contain a derogatory term for Pakistanis and Indians will remain unchanged unless there is an outcry from Hongkongers and the Central and Western District Council.

The Lands Department said in an e-mail that any renaming of streets could only proceed if there was 'strong support' from the local community and the relevant district council.

The Sunday Morning Post reported last week that some Hongkongers want the Chinese names of Mosque Street and Mosque Junction in SoHo, along with Upper Lascar Row and Lower Lascar Row in Sheung Wan, to be changed because they contain a derogatory term.

Each street, they said, starts with the Cantonese term 'Mo Lo', which derives from 'Mo Lo Cha', a derogatory Cantonese expression for Indians and Pakistanis in Hong Kong.

Keran Hayat, 21, a Hongkonger of Pakistani descent, favours the street name changes, but said that many people in the Indian and Pakistani community were not aware of the meanings of the street names.

She said she had spoken with family members about the problem and would e-mail friends to 'see if people agree or not'.

Ali Ghazanfar, the Hongkonger who originally raised the matter, has written a letter to the Lands Department, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the district council.