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Opinion | To keep talent, Hong Kong must become a truly inclusive, diverse society
- Policy measures may lure the talented to the city but to get them to stay, Hong Kong must make people of diverse backgrounds feel welcome
- It can start by bringing down the barriers for hidden talent in its small but growing ethnic minority community
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It is hard to miss the areas of emphasis in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s first policy address. Headings mentioning attracting enterprises and talent appeared early on, and there is no doubt of how seriously this issue is being addressed. The city has seen a brain drain, and stemming that outflow while bringing in new talent has become critical to rebuilding the economy and Hong Kong’s status as a thriving business centre.
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As Hong Kong looks outwards, it is perhaps serendipitous that October is Global Diversity Awareness Month. As we compete against other economies in the region for talent from across the world, I cannot help but reflect on this month’s message on the critical importance of diversity and inclusion.
It is clear that diversity adds to the wealth of skills and creativity in Hong Kong. But we need to make sure the diversity that is brought in can thrive, by providing an inclusive and open environment.
Incidents such as food delivery riders from Hong Kong’s ethnic minority communities being subject to racially derogatory comments, as revealed in a study by Lingnan University released at the end of last month, or the recent episode at a university dormitory targeting students from mainland China, are all examples of prejudice against people from diverse backgrounds.
We, at the Equal Opportunities Commission, often come across instances of racial discrimination and a lack of cultural sensitivity in our work too. These may range from unfriendly service at retail outlets to an outright refusal to rent premises to someone on account of their race.
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Differential treatment related to racial or cultural backgrounds in the workplace is also nothing new. More often though, it is the subtle acts of microaggression or cultural insensitivity that racial minorities face, whether at work or outside, that make them feel unwelcome.
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