Ethnic minorities have long been an integral part of Hong Kong’s vibrant history, yet have been largely neglected and forgotten. Now they will be honoured when the city’s first museum dedicated to celebrating their contributions is launched early next year, according to Jeffrey Andrews, the city’s first-ever ethnic minority social worker.
The Diversity Hub will be a space located in the iconic Chungking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui – Hong Kong’s bustling tourist hub and entertainment district – and is set to feature talks by high-achieving and inspiring members of the ethnic minority community, a timeline showcasing the contributions made by the city’s ethnic minority population, and interactive elements, such as workshops.
There are just under 620,000 people from ethnic minority groups living in Hong Kong, according to the 2021 Population Census, making up about 8.4% of the city’s population.
History of ethnic minorities
Hong Kong wouldn’t be what it is today without its ethnic minority communities.
“Along with people who were traditionally defined as Eurasian, Hong Kong’s history has been shaped in important ways by people who were Armenian, Jewish, Portuguese, and Parsi,” writes Vaudine England in her recent book Fortune’s Bazaar: The Making of Hong Kong (Corsair 2023). “Without its in-between people, Hong Kong simply could not have functioned and would not have worked. They help define Hong Kong’s difference to this day.”
Signs of these diverse influences are all over the city. Launched in the late 1800s, the cross-harbour ferry service – what we today know as the Star Ferry – was set up by an entrepreneurial Indian Parsi, Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala. During British colonial rule, Portuguese merchants and Malay sailors coexisted with the ethnic Chinese population. And without the city’s Filipina and Indonesian childcare workers, many parents would be unable to go out to work.
“I don’t think the ethnic minority population knows how much history it has in Hong Kong. I hope awareness about that will bring a sense of belonging to the community,” said Vansh Arora, a project manager of the Diversity Hub.
Under colonial rule, the British also used South Asians for law enforcement, with the belief that Sikh Indians, in particular, were brave and strong fighters, according to John Erni and Lisa Leung’s book Understanding South Asian Minorities (Hong Kong University Press. 2014).
“Today, ethnic minorities have moved beyond stereotypical jobs,” says Jeffrey Andrews, who is also an advisor on the Diversity Hub, “with the likes of Jahangir Khan representing the Hong Kong football team, Vivek Mahbubani being a leading face in the city’s stand-up comedy scene, and Sa’Diyya Nesar delivering inspiring TEDx speeches about living her life with a disability.”
Idea behind the museum
About 18 months ago, Andrews had the idea of creating a community space. That initial idea later morphed into the creation of a cultural space.
Currently, Andrews conducts tours of Chungking Mansions, organised by the Centre for Refugees, offering those unfamiliar with the building’s diversity an experience of interacting with shop vendors and residents alike.
The Diversity Hub will be a step beyond that. Andrews hopes the space will enable ethnic Chinese Hong Kongers to learn more about the history and contributions made by the city’s ethnic minorities.
“In about five years time, I’m hoping this will be another tourist spot, like how people say they want to go to the Peak. I hope people will also say ‘Let’s go to Chungking and visit the Diversity Hub’,” says Andrews.
An official opening is planned for 21 March next year, given that it marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Current plans for the Hub also include that its first year will focus on the city’s South Asian communities, with the specific area of interest set to change every three months. Some ideas include a focus on culture, religion and spirituality, and festivals such as Eid and Diwali.
There are also hopes that the second year will focus on Africa, and the third on the Middle East, according to Linda Li, a consultant at the Hub.
Ultimately, the goal of the cultural space is to amplify ethnically diverse voices and foster cultural appreciation, says Li.
Government support
The Hub is predominantly being funded by Christian Action, a charity that works with marginalised communities.
Andrews remains hopeful that there will be government support in the future, adding that he hopes the Hub will become the go-to place in the city to discuss all things related to race, religion and culture.
