Is Hong Kong racist? Prejudice against ethnic minorities, especially Africans, undermines city’s claim to be truly international
Almost half of Hong Kong’s African community lives in Yuen Long where a recent bid to use an abandoned school as an activity centre was denied. Residents cited security concerns and claimed Africans were ‘more likely to be criminals’
With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Camy Lok Mei-ching takes a deep breath and strides into a rural committee meeting. About 10 people turn to face her. She recognises lawmakers, government officials and the residents of Shek Wu Tong Village in Yuen Long district.
Lok is president of the Hong Kong African Association which she hopes will be allowed to convert an abandoned school in their village into an activity centre.
Despite approval by the Town Planning Board, Lok’s plan faces strong opposition from villagers.
Over the past months, various protests were launched, with residents citing security concerns and accusing African people in the community of being “more likely to be criminals”.
Lok, in her 50s, is married to 45-year-old Nigerian, Ezeakunne Sylvester, and has been leading a lonely battle against what she says is a clear-cut case of racial discrimination – part of a long-standing yet often neglected problem in Hong Kong.
“They say they fear a rise in crimes [if the centre is located there],” Lok says of her detractors. “It’s such a ridiculous excuse.
“Every time our association wants to do something, we are chased away like stray dogs.”
